Race Report

Formula 1 Rolex Magyar Nagydij Grand Prix 2020
FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit: Hungaroring (HU), Length 4,381 km, 17^th - 19^th July 2020, Rounds 5 & 6
www.hungaroring.hu

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2020:
Calan Williams (AUS), Federico Malvestiti (ITA) and Matteo Nannini (ITA)

Budapest: third consecutive meeting

The 2020 FIA F3 met up for their third race event on the fluid and demanding Hungaroring Circuit near Budapest, racing as one of the support races for the Formula 1 Rolex Magyar Nagydij 2020. Overtaking is normally not easy on this circuit, and the drivers faced major challenges in terms of tyre management and track limit observance.

Race One Qualifying

Friday, 17/07/20, 14.05 – 14.35, Weather: Rain, 15°C

It rained a bit at night, but the track was almost dry for free practice in the morning. Our drivers performed very well, with Matteo as 13^th, Calan as 16^th and Federico as 20^th. After the session, a few drops fell again and dark clouds covered the sky.
Later it started to rain continuously. Rain fell even harder when the 30 powerful FIA F3 racing machines were ready in the pit lane for the start of the qualifying session. The session started and the cars produced large spray. Not everyone had completed a first lap when Zendeli and Lawson slipped on aquaplaning and spun off into the gravel bed. The session was immediately stopped with red and after a few minutes it was anounced that the session was suspended. Everyone returned to the paddock drenched.
The qualifying session was rescheduled in the evening at 19.05. It was still wet, but it rained less. The track was very slippery, and yet the times were getting faster towards the end. Calan found a super line and reached an excellent 5^th place. Federico should have gotten close to the top ten, but in his best lap the last sector wasn't going as well as before. Nevertheless, he reached a good 17^th place. Matteo often went wide and didn't find a good line. He was 29^th in the end.

FIA F3 Championship

Race One (40 Minutes)

Saturday, 18/07/20, 10.25, Weather: Overcast, 16°C

In the morning, a few raindrops fell, just enough to keep the track slippery. Because no further rain was expected, everyone chose slick tires. There was a collision in the first corner when some went skidding. Unfortunately, Calan was also involved, and his race ended without him being able to use the good starting position. A safety car phase followed in which the damaged cars were cleared away. Federico had held 13^th place and Matteo was already 21^st, but then Lawson’s car lost oil and a fire broke out on his vehicle. The safety car took over the field again, but because of the oil trail Lawson had drawn far over the course, the race was interrupted with the red flag. All vehicles drove back to the pit lane, where they waited in a row. The officials were doing everything to bind the long oil track with cement as quickly as possible. At the restart behind the safety car there were still 15 laps to go. Now the track was quite dry, but in some places it remained still wet. Matteo, who had already moved up to 17^th place, received a drive-through penalty for leaving too big of a distance to the car in front of him under Safety Car conditions. He dropped back to 22^nd place. A pity! Federico found a good rhythm and was already past Dunner when he got a little off the track and lost time on the still slippery surface. With that, Dunner managed to regain the position. Federico finished a good 13^th, and Matteo finished 22^nd.

The grid for the second race of the weekend was set by reversing the order of the first ten finishers in the first race, with the rest of the places set according to finishing order in the first race.

FIA F3 Championship

Race Two (40 Minutes)

Sunday, 19/07/20, 09.45, Weather: Rainy, 16°C

The race on Sunday morning started in cool temperatures and on a wet track. Raindrops continued to fall for a while, but there was no major downpour. Nevertheless there was a lot of spray on the track. Federico was in 17^th position, Matteo 21^st and Calan already 25^th when the Saftety Car took over the field after an accident. At the restart, Federico improved to 15^th place. Matteo was now 18^th and tried to make up more places. He had contact with a competitor, spun, and then came back to the pit lane because his front wing was damaged. Matteo then finished the race equipped with a new part and reached the finish line in 25^th. Calan improved in big steps and brought home a great 15^th place at the end. Federico, who was consistently in 15^th place, skidded in a curve and spun. Unfortunately, he hit the barrier with the rear and stopped. Federico had lost the good position and the safety car took over the field again for the last two laps.

After a short break, the F1 and all series in the supporting program will once again compete in a three race weekend package. At the beginning there will be two events in Silverstone, followed by an event in Barcelona.

Championship standings after 6 out of 18 races:

1^st Oscar Piastri (AUS), 76 points; 2^nd Logan Sargeant (USA), 50 points; 3^rd Theo Pourchaire (F), 48 points; 4^th David Beckmann (D), 47.5 points; 5^th Richard Verschoor (NL), 45 points; 6^th Frederik Vesti (DK), 37.5 points

© Formula Motorsport Limited

2020 FIA F3 Championship – New Calendar

For more information:

• www.fiaformula3.com
• www.italiaracing.net