Callum Ilott Starts Monza Weekend with Fastest Time

While the FIA Formula 3 European Championship teams and drivers still had to deal with pouring rain during the official test day at the same venue two days ago, Monza’s royal park welcomed them with bright sunshine for free practice. At the 5.793 kilometres long Grand Prix circuit, nobody was faster than Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam, 1m44.261s). Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam, 1m44.355s) was classified second from the best-placed rookie, Jehan Daruvala (Carlin, 1m44.492s). Lando Norris (Carlin, 1m44.508s) was the second-best rookie in fourth place overall, from Nikita Mazepin (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m44.599s) and the leader in the drivers’ standings, Swede Joel Eriksson (Motopark, 1m44.678s).

After an absence of one year, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship returned to Monza, a circuit with a long motor racing heritage near the Italian city of Milan. The Italian round is the home event for the Prema Powerteam that runs the quartet of Maximilian Günther, Callum Ilott, Guanyu Zhou (1m45.207s) and Mick Schumacher (1m45.244s). The two stalwarts Günther and Ilott, who already competed when the FIA Formula 3 European Championship visited Monza last time around, battled it out for the top spot in the final minutes of free practice, with British driver Ilott coming out on top. German Günther had to make do with second place, only 0.094 seconds down on his team-mate.

Behind the two seasoned drivers, rookies Jehan Daruvala from India and Lando Norris from the UK once again showed off their skills and claimed third and fourth place respectively. Russian Nikita Mazepin and Swede Joel Eriksson ended up in fifth and sixth place, ahead of Brits Jake Dennis (Carlin, 1m44.698s) and Harrison Newey (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1m44.701s). Marino Sato (Motopark, 1m44.759s), a Japanese Formula 3 novice, and Estonian Ralf Aron (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m44.835s) rounded out the top ten.

How close things are in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship once again became apparent by the fact that the lap times of the first 17 drivers were within one second. On his fastest lap, Mick Schumacher, who was classified 17th, was just 0.983 seconds slower than pace-setter Callum Ilott.

 

Monza, Rounds 4-6 – Free Practice 1

1^st – No. 31, Lando Norris*, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:45.463

2^nd – No. 1, Joel Eriksson, SWE, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:45.575

3^rd – No. 53, Callum Ilott, GBR, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.580

4^th – No. 62, Ferdinand Habsburg, AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:45.631

5^th – No. 3, Maximilian Günther, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.867

6^th – No. 27, Jehan Daruvala*, IND, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:45.880

7^th – No. 99, Nikita Mazepin, RUS, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.918

8^th – No. 17, Harrison Newey, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.932

9^th – No. 55, David Beckmann, DEU, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.101

10^th – No. 25, Mick Schumacher*, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.156

11^th – No. 96, Joey Mawson*, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz 1:46.157

12^th – No. 5, Pedro Piquet, BRA, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.217

13^th – No. 11, Tadasuke Makino, JPN, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.283

14^th – No. 33, Marino Sato*, JPN, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:46.353

15^th – No. 21, Jake Dennis, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:46.374

16^th – No. 7, Ralf Aron, EST, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.455

17^th – No. 8, Guan Yu Zhou, CHN, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.479

18^th – No. 34, Jake Hughes, GBR, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:46.512

19^th – No. 47, Keyvan Andres Soori, DEU, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen 1:46.680

 

Car No. 5 not permitted to take part in first 15 minutes of session.

 

Monza, Rounds 4-6 – Free Practice 2

1^st – No. 53, Callum Ilott, GBR, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:44.261

2^nd – No. 3, Maximilian Günther, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:44.355

3^rd – No. 27, Jehan Daruvala*, IND, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:44.492

4^th – No. 31, Lando Norris*, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:44.508

5^th – No. 99, Nikita Mazepin, RUS, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:44.599

6^th – No. 1, Joel Eriksson, SWE, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:44.678

7^th – No. 21, Jake Dennis, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:44.698

8^th – No. 17, Harrison Newey, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:44.701

9^th – No. 33, Marino Sato*, JPN, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:44.759

10^th – No. 7, Ralf Aron, EST, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:44.835

11^th – No. 34, Jake Hughes, GBR, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:44.870

12^th – No. 62, Ferdinand Habsburg, AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, 1:44.982

13^th – No. 96, Joey Mawson*, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz 1:45.043

14^th – No. 11, Tadasuke Makino, JPN, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.134

15^th – No. 5, Pedro Piquet, BRA, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.193

16^th – No. 8, Guan Yu Zhou, CHN, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.207

17^th – No. 25, Mick Schumacher*, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.244

18^th – No. 47, Keyvan Andres Soori, DEU, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen 1:45.572

19^th – No. 55, David Beckmann, DEU, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 1:45.700