Melbourne delivered a spectacle of racing in today’s F3 sprint. In a red-flagged nine-lap race, Bruno Del Pino claimed his first F3 win.
In yesterday’s qualifying session, it was Théophile Naël who claimed pole after a last-minute dash to the chequered flag. However, with the reverse-grid format, the top 12 have been flipped around for today’s F3 sprint. Today’s front row drivers are Van Amersfoort Racing’s Bruno Del Pino in P1 and Enzo Deligny in P2. Aussie newcomer Patrick Heuzenroeder starts from 23rd for both races. Home town hope, James Wharton starts in fifth for today’s sprint. It is going to be 20 laps – or 40 minutes plus one lap – to the finish line. Melbourne is a tough track to overtake on. So will it be a lights-to-flag race for Del Pino, or will someone else climb up to claim the first points of the F3 season?
Lights Out!
It’s a great start for Del Pino, who gets a good, clean launch of the line. But behind him its a packed track as five cars take Turn 1 together. Fortunately, there is no contact between any of the drivers, and they all make it through the corner safely.
In the mid pack its a constant jostle for position as the drivers come around the track to complete their first lap.
Elsewhere, moves are being made by our front row starter in tomorrow’s race. Ugo Ugochukwu gains a position over teammate Naël and TRIDENT’s Freddie Slater. Wharton has dropped a few positions from the start, but holds position in seventh as he battles with Mattia Colnaghi and Louis Sharp. After a fair battle, it is Colnaghi who loses out as he goes off the track and plummets down the order to 30th.
Moves at the Back
The AIX drivers all make up positions, with Fernando Barrichello up to 25th and Yevan David leading a train of cars from 20th.
Elsewhere on track, Brando Badoer, who is currently in third, is under investigation for a false start.
Ugochukwu makes a great move over Nicola Lacorte to claim ninth and climb further up the field. Campos’ Naël struggles to make headway in this race as he remains in 12th.
All to Play for at PREMA
Teammates Sharp and Wharton battle it out with a gap of just four-tenths separating the two of them. But the drivers do not give each other any leeway as they continue battling it out in the following laps.
RED FLAG!
And it ends in disaster for PREMA, as a slight shove at the exit of Turn 4 by Wharton leads to the two drivers crashing into the barriers at Turn 5 on lap 9. Both drivers safely get out of the car, but they are definitely not happy with each other. It is a tough blow for the Italian team at the start of the season, but the drivers will hopefully come back with clear heads tomorrow for the Feature Race.
Race Will Not Be Resumed
Due to the extended time it takes to remove the cars and repair the barriers, race control decided not to resume the race. The final order under Red Flag conditions is: Del Pino, Deligny, Badoer, Stromsted, Kato, Gladysz, Ugochukwu, Slater, Nael, Lacorte. Due to the limited race time, reduced points are going to be awarded.
The final podium positions are claimed by Del Pino, ahead of teammate Deligny and Rodin Motorsport’s Badoer in P3. Del Pino’s victory today makes it his first-ever race win in Formula 3.
Embed from Getty ImagesFormula 3 is back tomorrow at 8:50 am local time for the Feature Race, where the full allocation of points will be awarded.
Feature Image Credit: Formula 3