Blomqvist wins FIA Formula 3 European Championship – Round 10

From left, Verstappen – Blomqvist – Giovinazzi

20-year-old British driver Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) claimed victory in the 29th season race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He dominated the race at the 4.909 kilometers long Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola and scored a lights-to-flag victory. In bright sunshine, the three years younger Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing) crossed the finish line in second place, having overtaken Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) on the final meters. Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam) finished fourth and is now 84 points ahead of Blomqvist in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings with four races remaining. Verstappen, who already signed a contract to race in Formula 1 with the Toro Rosso team for 2015, is 96 points down on Lotus Formula 1 junior driver Ocon.

At the start, Tom Blomqvist made the best use of his pole position and took the lead. Antonio Giovinazzi overtook Esteban Ocon for second in the first corner already. On lap three, Antonio Fuoco also managed to find a way past Ocon and thus blew the young championship leader’s hopes of a possible podium finish. At that time, Max Verstappen had already worked his way up to sixth position after having had to start from eleventh place in accordance with the regulations following an engine change. His progress was briefly interrupted on lap seven as a spin by Alexander Toril (ThreeBond with T-Sport) prompted the race director to send the safety car out.

Verstappen drove from 11th to 2nd

After the restart, Blomqvist remained in front from Giovinazzi and Fuoco. Soon after the field was released again, Verstappen overtook Nicholas Latifi (Prema Powerteam) and then was right behind Esteban Ocon. Two laps later, the Dutchman also overtook the Frenchman. As Fuoco had to pit from third place due to a technical issue, Verstappen even moved up into the top three. However, third place was not enough for the Dutchman: he was so quick that he managed to close up to second-placed Giovinazzi just before the finish. Coming onto the main straight on the final lap, he managed to work his way past the Italian to finish second. Unfazed by the action behind him, Tom Blomqvist drove victory home.

Behind the three drivers on the podium, Esteban Ocon took the flag in fourth place. After 20 laps, Lucas Auer (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) finished fifth from Nicholas Latifi, Jake Dennis (Carlin), Félix Serralles (Team West-Tec F3), Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) and Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing)

RESULTS – 20 LAPS:

Pos Driver Team Car Behind
1 Tom Blomqvist Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara/Volkswagen 0.000s
2 Max Verstappen Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara/Volkswagen 4.263s
3 Antonio Giovinazzi Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara/Volkswagen 4.282s
4 Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam Dallara/Mercedes 7.743s
5 Lucas Auer KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport Dallara/Mercedes 10.029s
6 Nicholas Latifi Prema Powerteam Dallara/Mercedes 12.497s
7 Jake Dennis Carlin Dallara/Volkswagen 13.624s
8 Felix Serralles Team West-Tec F3 Dallara/Mercedes 17.388s
9 Felix Rosenqvist KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport Dallara/Mercedes 19.089s
10 Gustavo Menezes Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara/Volkswagen 19.746s
11 Dennis van de Laar Prema Powerteam Dallara/Mercedes 22.246s
12 Nick Cassidy ThreeBond with T-Sport Dallara/NBE 23.867s
13 Edward Jones Carlin Dallara/Volkswagen 26.250s
14 Tatiana Calderon Jo Zeller Racing Dallara/Mercedes 26.979s
15 Jules Szymkowiak Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara/Volkswagen 32.283s
16 Sean Gelael Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara/Volkswagen 32.689s
17 Michele Beretta EuroInternational Dallara/Mercedes 34.096s
18 Richard Goddard ThreeBond with T-Sport Dallara/NBE 35.384s
19 Jordan King Carlin Dallara/Volkswagen 35.533s
20 Sergio Sette Camara EuroInternational Dallara/Mercedes 37.902s
21 Roy Nissany KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport Dallara/Mercedes 37.932s
22 Andy Chang Team West-Tec F3 Dallara/Mercedes 37.949s
23 Sandro Zeller Jo Zeller Racing Dallara/Mercedes 42.918s
24 Martin Cao Fortec Motorsports Dallara/Mercedes 43.106s
25 Antonio Fuoco Prema Powerteam Dallara/Mercedes 1 Lap
DNF William Buller Signature Dallara/Volkswagen Retired
DNF Santino Ferrucci Fortec Motorsports Dallara/Mercedes Retired
DNF Alexander Toril ThreeBond with T-Sport Dallara/NBE Retired