Daruvala Takes Superb Podium in Hungary

Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala took a superb podium in the opening FIA Formula 3 European Championship race of the weekend at the Hungaroring today. The Sahara Force India Academy driver started from third and held his position throughout, following an early fight for second on lap one. It was a mixed race for the team however, with Lando Norris dropping back initially from his seventh place grid slot and crossing the line eighth. Ferdinand Habsburg had a difficult qualifying session compounded by a drive through penalty in the race, and took the flag in 15th place.

After a mixed qualifying session for the Carlin team, the lights went out for the first race of the weekend. Daruvala made a good start, fighting for second place with Jake Hughes off the line before being forced wide at turn one. The Carlin man slotted back into third place, while a full course yellow was needed after an incident between Ralf Aron and Pedro Piquet.

Daruvala was still running third, while Norris was ninth after being passed under full course yellow by Mick Schumacher, Habsburg meanwhile was 12th. As the racing got underway again, Norris was fighting to get past Schumacher, while Habsburg was forced to serve a drive-through penalty for a jump start.

After passing Schumacher, Norris set off in pursuit of Guanyu Zhou while Daruvala stayed close to Hughes in the fight for second. Despite the disappointment of running at the back of the grid, Habsburg was showing strong pace, setting the fastest lap of the race to show his potential.

As the chequered flag was shown, Daruvala was rewarded for a mature drive with third place, Norris just ran out of time to pass Zhou and claimed eighth. Habsburg meanwhile was 15th.

Speaking about his race, Daruvala said, “I’m really happy with the weekend so far. The car has been very good in both the wet and the dry. In the race I was stuck behind Hughes and I felt there was more pace in the car which gives me a lot of confidence going into qualifying later this afternoon.”

The second qualifying session of the weekend will take place at 16.15 local time, setting the grid for race two and race three tomorrow.