Illott Takes Round 6 Victory
Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam) is the winner of the sixth race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season at the 5.793 kilometres long Formula 1 track in the royal park of Monza. The Brit finished ahead of his compatriot Lando Norris (Carlin), who was the best-placed rookie in the field. Third across the line in fine spring weather was German Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam). In the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings, Swede Joel Eriksson (Motopark) remains in the lead. Following his fourth-place finish, his margin over Lando Norris as his closest rival has now been reduced to only one point.
Callum Ilott already laid the foundation for his second victory of the season at the start as he moved up into the lead. Guanyu Zhou (Prema Powerteam), Lando Norris and Joel Eriksson, who had started from pole position, followed behind Ilott after the opening lap. In yet another entertaining race, McLaren junior driver Norris overtook Chinese Ferrari junior Guanyu Zhou on lap five, but turned out to be unable to decisively close the gap to race leader Ilott before the chequered flag was out. Thus, Prema driver Ilott scored his second win of the season in the home round for his Italian team.
Behind the two British drivers Ilott and Norris, Maximilian Günther had the upper hand over Joel Eriksson in a battle for the final remaining podium slot over many laps. A few laps before the finish, the Swede started a final attack, but locked up under braking and had to make do with fourth place. Ferdinand Habsburg (Carlin), Mick Schumacher (Prema Powerteam) and Pedro Piquet (Van Amersfoort Racing) secured fifth, sixth and seventh place in that order, all of them having managed to overtake Ralf Aron (Hitech Grand Prix). The Estonian eventually finished eighth ahead of Jehan Daruvala (Carlin) and Guanyu Zhou, who dropped back to tenth.
Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam): “In the first two races, we were still having some problems. In the third race, however, things were going better after we had made some changes on the brakes. Especially in the early stages, my wheels were regularly locking up under braking. Later on, I managed to pull a slight gap ahead of my rivals. Compared to Lando, I was faster in the second sector, so that I was able to keep my margin at a consistent level for a long time.”
Lando Norris (Carlin): “In this race, my start was slightly better than before. After a few laps, I was able to overtake Guanyu Zhou, but this time, Callum was too fast for me. Especially in the second sector, I simply wasn’t good enough. Still, second place is a good result for me. Not only for me, but for the entire Carlin team, the Monza weekend has been really positive, we all have put in a strong performance.”
Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam): “Having had problems in qualifying at the start of the weekend, this podium finish now is a positive way to end it. Callum and I having scored first and third place in the home round of our team is particularly nice, of course. At the start, I gained one position and then soon became involved in the battle with Joel Eriksson, in which I eventually came out on top.”
Grid
1st – No. 1, Joel Eriksson, SWE, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
2nd – No. 31, Lando Norris*, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
3rd – No. 53, Callum Ilott, GBR, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
4th – No. 8, Guan Yu Zhou, CHN, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
5th – No. 62, Ferdinand Habsburg, AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
6th – No. 3, Maximilian Günther, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
7th – No. 7, Ralf Aron, EST, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
8th – No. 27, Jehan Daruvala*, IND, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
9th – No. 99, Nikita Mazepin, RUS, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
10th – No. 21, Jake Dennis, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
11th – No. 17, Harrison Newey, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
12th – No. 25, Mick Schumacher*, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
13th – No. 34, Jake Hughes, GBR, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
14th – No. 33, Marino Sato*, JPN, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
15th – No. 5, Pedro Piquet, BRA, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz^
16th – No. 11, Tadasuke Makino, JPN, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
17th – No. 47, Keyvan Andres Soori, DEU, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen
18th – No. 96, Joey Mawson*, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
19th – No. 55, David Beckmann, DEU, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz
Results
1st – No. 53, Callum Ilott, GBR, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, 20 laps, 35:05.538
2nd – No. 31, Lando Norris*, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Gap: 0.736
3rd – No. 3, Maximilian Günther, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 2.705
4th – No. 1, Joel Eriksson, SWE, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Gap: 9.074
5th – No. 62, Ferdinand Habsburg, AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Gap: 9.762
6th – No. 25, Mick Schumacher*, DEU, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 12.135
7th – No. 5, Pedro Piquet, BRA, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 13.627
8th – No. 7, Ralf Aron, EST, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 14.980
9th – No. 27, Jehan Daruvala*, IND, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Gap: 15.371
10th – No. 8, Guan Yu Zhou, CHN, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 17.436
11th – No. 99, Nikita Mazepin, RUS, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 17.873
12th – No. 33, Marino Sato*, JPN, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Gap: 19.376
13th – No. 11, Tadasuke Makino, JPN, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 27.198
14th – No. 55, David Beckmann, DEU, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 28.094
15th – No. 17, Harrison Newey, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 29.742
16th – No. 96, Joey Mawson*, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Gap: 1 lap
Not Classified
No. 47, Keyvan Andres Soori, DEU, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Lap 7
No. 21, Jake Dennis, GBR, Carlin, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Lap 1
No. 34, Jake Hughes, GBR, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 Mercedes-Benz, Lap 1
Fastest Lap
No. 1, Joel Eriksson, SWE, Motopark, Dallara F317 Volkswagen, Lap 6, 1:44.452, 199.6 kph
