F3: Lundgaard lunges ahead in Budapest Free Practice

Christian Lundgaard

Christian Lundgaard led the way in Round 5 Free Practice, topping the timings for the first time this season, at the Hungaroring. The ART Grand Prix ace was followed by Trident’s Pedro Piquet and HWA RACELAB’s Jake Hughes, in a new look top three.

Giorgio Carrara – in just his second round at this level – set the standard on an overcast morning in Hungary, racing round the tight and twisty circuit in under 1m 38s. It wasn’t to last as the glistening red trio of Robert Shwartzman, Marcus Armstrong and Jehan Daruvala flexed their muscles to go 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd.

The PREMA trio was broken up by Leonardo Pulcini, who dipped amongst them in 3rd, pushing back Daruvala, who started to free fall, as he headed to the pits, alongside teammate Shwartzman. Armstrong remained out on track and had three goes at bettering the Russian’s time, finally toppling him at the third attempt, lapping at 1:33.859.

With all three drivers of the Italian squad back in the pits, Raoul Hyman and Hughes edged in front to take P1 and P2 with 11 minutes to go. However, the trio soon returned to the track and quickly handed us an all PREMA front three once more.

Again, it wouldn’t last. Felipe Drugovich, Hyman, Pulcini and Piquet all leapt ahead in the final few minutes of Practice, before Lundgaard seared around the track to top the pack, with a hot time of 1:32.771.

All hung in the balance when the checkered flag was waved, as nearly the entire field had the chance to set one final lap. The shake-up ensued, as Piquet and Hughes rose to second and third, with Fewtrell climbing more than ten places to take fourth. Shwartzman and Armstrong managed to recover enough for fifth and sixth, ahead of Pulcini. Jüri Vips leapt from 24^th to 8^th, while Alex Peroni and Niko Kari completed the top ten.

None could run faster than Lundgaard today though and the Danish driver claimed his first P1 position of the season. He will be hoping to maintain his early form when it counts tomorrow, as the cars hit the track at 9am for qualifying.

FIA Formula 3 Round 5 – Free Practice Provisional Classification