GP3

George Russell has cruised to his third win of the season with a demonstration run of pace and guile in this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, dealing with an attack from teammate Nirei Fukuzumi early on before cruising to victory by over 7 seconds from the race-long fight between Jack Aitken and Fukuzumi for another all ART Grand Prix podium.

The Mercedes F1 junior driver made a slow getaway compared to his rivals but had just enough to hold them back at La Source, with Fukuzumi lining up behind Russell on the run down to Eau Rouge and Aitken running around the outside of Arjun Maini at La Source for P3: the Honda development driver had the run on his rival and eased past at Les Combes for the lead, and the fight was on.

Maini and Dorian Boccolacci came together at Les Combes, with the Indian just able to hold back his rivals but the Frenchman losing to teammate Ryan Tveter as the order shook out behind them.

Two more teammates squabbling over positions saw a fight between Tatiana Calderon and Bruno Baptista end early on lap 3, when the Colombian ran wide at Les Combes before jumping the kerb on the way back and clattering into the Brazilian, who was into the wall and retirement ahead of a brief VSC period to remove the stricken DAMS vehicle.

Russell was biding his time (and his DRS), but 2 laps after the restart he pounced, using the advantage to blast past Fukuzumi and into the lead into Les Combes, towing Aitken behind him to engage the Japanese driver: while his teammates fought each other for P2 Russell sailed away into an unassailable lead, setting the fastest lap as he built a gap that would deny his teammates the DRS advantage he used to good effect.

Further back Giuliano Alesi was on a charge, making great use of his speed on the Kemmel straight to find a way up the order, outdragging Niko Kari, Alessio Lorandi and Julien Falchero and he did so.

Aitken used much the same move as Russell to steal P2 from Fukuzumi, running outside and through his teammate at Les Combes to give him track advantage, although he was unable to shake Fukuzumi all race long as the pair fought all the way to the flag.

And when it dropped the paddock applauded a superb drive from Russell, who put his Budapest disappointments behind him as he got his title fight back in order, while Aitken overturned a late attack from Fukuzumi for P2 at the line.

Maini closed on the pair late in the race but was just unable to find a way by, while Boccolacci reclaimed P5 at the restart and held it all race long ahead of Tveter and Alesi, with Falchero racing alone to the flag and tomorrow’s reverse pole, ahead of a late fight between Kari and Kevin Jörg which resolved in the Finn’s favour.

source: gp3.com

George Russell has nabbed pole position in a wet/dry qualifying session at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, grabbing the top spot late in a tricky session which saw little rain but ran on a wet circuit throughout, to finish almost three tenths ahead of teammate Nirei Fukuzumi and Arjun Maini.

The Briton stopped the clocks on 2:27.042 with 3 minutes remaining in a session which was drying late on, but not quite enough to switch to slicks: as a result his rivals had little left in their tyres to push ahead in the closing minutes.

The track opened to warm but damp conditions, with most of a previous rain storm blowing over as all of the field emerged on track as the lights went green.

The times were soon tumbling as Alessio Lorandi, Jack Aitken, Dorian Boccolacci and Russell ran quicker each time around to top the timesheets, with the Mercedes F1 junior driver going purple on the first 2 sectors before following his rivals into the pits for fresh rubber at the halfway mark.

Lorandi, Steijn Schothorst and Boccolacci were all improving, swapping P2 between themselves behind Russell, until Maini grabbed the top spot with 4 minutes remaining: unfortunately for the Haas junior driver first Russell and then Fukuzumi improved on his time as the clock wound down, setting up another ART front row for tomorrow’s Race 1.

Aitken will be disappointed to finish just outside of the top 3, ahead of an impressive lap from Matthieu Vaxivière, Boccolacci, Ryan Tveter and Schothorst, all of whom will be looking for better luck with the weather to try and peg back some of the gap up to Russell tomorrow. 

Provisional Qualifying Classification  

source: gp3.com

Dorian Boccolacci has claimed the early honours after topping this morning’s free practice session at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, grabbing the top spot late in an uneventful session by four tenths from Tatiana Calderon and Kevin Jörg.

The Frenchman’s time of 2:06.163 came with 3 minutes remaining in a session where most of the drivers held a lot in reserve and working on race runs, given the expected difference in temperatures between practice and this afternoon’s qualifying session.

The track opened to cold but clear conditions, with everyone running straight out on track to get some laps: Anthoine Hubert and then Jack Aitken set the early pace, with Nirei Fukuzumi grabbed P1 at the half hour mark, and it looked like the session was done for fast laps.

But with 7 minutes remaining Calderon grabbed the top spot by over a second, prompting a number of her rivals to push to match her time: the Campos drivers squabbled with the other DAMS teammates as Calderon returned to the pits, and with 3 minutes to go Boccolacci nicked the top spot as teammate Jörg slotted into P3.

On the final lap Boccolacci was pushing again, running purple on sector 1 until a yellow in sector 2 slowed everyone, and the session was done: Leonardo Pulcini, Matthieu Vaxivière, Ryan Tveter, Marcos Siebert and Raoul Hyman were within a second of the top spot, with new driver Juan Manuel Correa a creditable P9 in his first session, with the ART teammates ran P13-16, led by Aitken. Qualifying promises a lot of change this afternoon.

Provisional Free Practice Classification

Jack Aitken has taken his second pole position of the season with a fine lap late in this morning’s GP3 Series qualifying session at the Hungaroring, grabbing the top spot just before a red flag brought proceedings to a halt two minutes early ahead of ART teammates George Russell and Nirei Fukuzumi.

The Renault development driver stopped the clocks at 1:31.754, claiming pole by almost two tenths from his disappointed rivals, who will be ruing their luck at not getting their quickest laps in before the session was brought to a halt alongside Arjun Maini’s stopped car on the front straight.

All of the field were straight out on track when the green lights came on, and the warm and sunny conditions meant that the times were soon tumbling: Aitken set the first competitive time but was soon sharing the top spot with his teammates as Fukuzumi, Anthoine Hubert and Russell swapped it between them.

With all of the teams running at the recent test here most of the grid were able to put together a competitive lap, with Raoul Hyman setting quickest sectors but not quite able to string them together, and Dorian Boccolacci also pushing them hard all session long.

5 minutes from the end Aitken drove a great lap to take provisional pole, but more was expected from his rivals: unfortunately for them Arjun Maini was struck by mechanical gremlins and pulled over at turn 1, bringing out the yellow flags before re-starting again, only to grind to a halt just out of the final corner, bringing out the red flags with 2 minutes remaining.

The decision was made to close the session early, to the disappointment of everyone outside of the top 3: Boccolacci, Hubert, Giuliano Alesi, Nico Kari, Kevin Joerg, Alessio Lorandi and Tatiana Calderon will all have expected more, and will be looking to demonstrate their pace in this afternoon’s race 1.

Provisional Qualifying Classification

source: gp3series.com

George Russell claimed the top spot in this afternoon’s free practice session at the Hungaroring with a late, fast lap as the chequered flag dropped, capping a fast and frantic session which saw the lead change countless times across the 45 minutes before the Briton finally snatched P1 from Raoul Hyman and Nirei Fukuzumi.

The Mercedes Junior driver stopped the clock at 1:32.255, going fastest in the first 2 sectors but running slightly wide at the final turn to steal the top spot from Hyman by just 0.085s in a very close session at a track where the teams had tested just one month ago.

The session opened to warm, sunny conditions and lengthening shadows all around the circuit, with all of the field except for Alessio Lorandi running straight out on track: the times started tumbling as almost the entire grid swapped the top spot right from the start.

Nevertheless there were no real problems on track until Giuliano Alesi hit a marker board at the halfway mark, spreading debris across the track and prompting a red flag period to deal with it all.

The field were back on track 8 minutes later as the circuit went live, apart from Jack Aitken who struggled to get going at the restart and was pushed back to the pits by his team to investigate as his rivals looked to steal P1 from the likeable Briton.

Over the closing minutes the battle for the top spot was hotter than ever: Arjun Maini claimed it with 10 to go, with teammate Lorandi on a charge before running wide at turn 11, and then it swapped between Fukuzumi, Russell, Fukuzumi and Hyman, with the South African quickest in the tricky middle sector.

It looked like he’d done enough to claim the honours as the clock ticked down to zero, returning to the pits as Russell hit his final lap: the Briton’s first two sectors were purple, giving him enough margin despite the small mistake at the final corner to take the session for himself.

Behind the top 3 Niko Kari, Maini, Aitken, Kevin Joerg, Leonardo Pulcini, Tatiana Calderon and Bruno Baptista were all well with a second of Russell and will be looking to overturn his advantage in tomorrow morning’s qualifying session. 

George Russell will stay in Budapest following the upcoming Round 4 at the Hungaroring to join Mercedes AMG F1 for both days of the Formula 1 test at the circuit, on 1-2 August.

The Briton, who currently leading the drivers’ standings following his pole position and win in race 1 at the last round in Silverstone, will step up to the test as a part of his role as Mercedes Junior driver, expanding on his simulator work and previous tests.

“I’m just so excited to be testing the W08,” Russell noted, “I’ve probably driven more virtual laps than anyone else with this car, so it’s going to be incredible to drive it in reality! My biggest priority is to do a good job for the team, to tick off the items on the engineers’ programme, and make sure we get the most out of the car and our running over the two days.”

Giuliano Alesi has dominated this morning’s Race 2 at Silverstone for his maiden GP3 win, leading all the way from lights to flag and controlling the pace all the way despite a close late battle behind him to lead home Jack Aitken and Niko Kari.

Poleman Dorian Boccolacci was unable to take the start, but his misfortune was to his teammate’s advantage: when the lights went out Alesi tore away from P2, leading his rivals unopposed into turn 1.

Behind him Aitken made a scorching start, easily disposing Arjun Maini and a slower Kari who just held off Anthoine Hubert, giving George Russell a line through his teammate and into P5 as the field headed away.

Kari soon made up for his disappointing start by dispatching Maini for P3 on lap 3 as Alesi and Aitken traded fastest laps, but they were slowed next time round as Steijn Schothorst and Julien Falchero came together and found the gravel, prompting a safety car period to dispose of the stricken vehicles.

The race was live again on lap 7, with Alesi easily controlling the restart before starting to rebuild his lead, while further back Russell was on a charge: yesterday’s winner was looking to return to the podium today and soon dispatched Maini into the final complex after hounding him all around the circuit.

Teammate Hubert tried to follow him through but was denied, handing Alessio Lorandi a run at the Frenchman: the pair touched and Hubert ran wide, but both returned to the fray almost immediately.

Out in front Alesi was controlling the pace: Aitken threw everything he had at him but it was not enough, with the Frenchman crossing the line 0.7s ahead for his first series win. Behind them Kari had his mirrors filled by Russell’s car for the closing stages of the race: the Briton tried to use all of his local knowledge but ran out of time to knock the Finn off the podium.

The Jenzer pair of Maini and Lorandi brought home more points to the team in P5 and 6, ahead of a late battle for the final points as Kevin Joerg held on against a charging Hubert.

And despite the lack of podium Russell was delighted to leave his home race leading the drivers’ standings on 92 points ahead of his teammates Hubert on 57, Nirei Fukuzumi on 54, Aitken on 52, with Lorandi on 51 and Alesi on 43, while in the teams’ fight ART Grand Prix are well ahead of their rivals on 241 points ahead of Trident on 91 and Jenzer on 87 points as the grid looks towards Round 4 in Budapest in just 2 weeks’ time.

Provisional Race 2 Classification  

source: gp3series.com

Two penalties have been handed down by the race stewards following this afternoon’s Race 1 in Silverstone, with Dorian Boccolacci and Bruno Baptista receiving time penalties which drop them down the classification and affect the grid for tomorrow’s Race 2.

Boccolacci was given a 5 second penalty for causing a collision with Niko Kari: the Frenchman, who finished the race in fifth place, now drops to P8 in the classification, promoting Kari, Arjun Maini and Giuliano Alesi.

Baptista was found to have infringed the rules surrounding the Virtual Safety Car, and was given a drive through penalty: as he was unable to serve it during the race, it has been converted to a 20 second time penalty, with the Brazilian dropping from P12 to 15^th in the classification, promoting Marcos Siebert, Steijn Schothorst and Tatiana Calderon.

eorge Russell brought a smile to the faces of the local fans with a strong win in gloomy conditions in this afternoon’s Race 1 at Silverstone, easing into the lead early on before leading for the remainder of the race ahead of teammate Anthoine Hubert and Alessio Lorandi.

But the Briton didn’t have it all his own way: when the lights went out it was Hubert who led the field into turn 1, making a brilliant start to mug the poleman for P1 while behind him Jack Aitken made a brilliant start from P5 to grab third from teammate Nirei Fukuzumi, with ART holding the top 4 places before Niko Kari blasted past both of them as the Japanese driver slowed to a stop, with Lorandi, Dorian Boccolacci and Ryan Tveter lined up behind Aitken at the end of the lap.

Russell was not to be denied, however, and it was lap 4 when he took a long tow and blew past Hubert for the lead of the race on Hangar straight. 3 laps later and it was Lorandi who was on the move, attacking Aitken for P4 at Bridge and looking forward for more as most of the grid looked to preserve their tyres for the end of the race.

On lap 14 Tveter slowed to a halt, his strong drive broken with his car on the side of the circuit, prompting a VSC period to remove his vehicle. Lorandi was ready for the restart 2 laps later and blew past Kari when the race went live and was soon all over the back of Hubert, who now had to look in his mirrors instead of ahead to the race lead.

As the last few laps rolled down it was Russell who was first to the flag, just a second ahead of the battle for P2, finally secured by Hubert over Lorandi for his first podium. Behind them Aitken held on for P4 in an eventful race ahead of a storming Boccolacci, who finished ahead of a fierce late squabble between Kari, Maini and Alesi, with Kevin Joerg and Julien Falchero rounding out the points in 9^th and 10^th. 

source: gp3series.com

George Russell has delighted the local fans with a sterling drive in cool conditions in this afternoon’s qualifying session in Silverstone.

The Briton lead the way for most of the session to claim his second pole position ahead of ART Grand Prix teammates Anthoine Hubert and Nirei Fukuzumi.

The Briton stopped the clock with a laptime of 1:46.608 to claim pole by a tenth in a tight session, which took place under overcast but dry conditions. All of the drivers were immediately on track given the chance of rain, looking to at least secure a banker lap while they could.

The early pace was fast and frantic: Santino Ferrucci, Bruno Baptista, Steijn Schothorst, Niko Kari, Alessio Lorandi and Hubert all spent time on top of the timesheets before Russell grabbed P1 with a 47.5s, and with tyres clearly beyond their best the entire field returned to the pits for fresh rubber and to plan how best to use it.

When they finally returned to the track the pace was no less rapid: Dorian Boccolacci missed pole by five thousandths before the ART teammates hit the front: Jack Aitken, Fukuzumi and finally Russell ran faster again, with Hubert slotting into P2 with 2 minutes remaining. Fukuzumi looked to improve on his final lap but was slightly wide in sector 3, and the top 3 was set.

Behind then Boccolacci, Lorandi, Aitken, Niko Kari, Arjun Maini, Ryan Tveter and Julien Falchero were all within a second of the top spot and will be looking to make up the gap tomorrow when they hit the track once again for race 1.

Provisional Qualifying Classification

George Russell has claimed the top spot in this afternoon’s free practice session in Silverstone, blasting past everyone as the session closed with a stunning lap to grab P1 in an ART block out of the top four places ahead of Nirei Fukuzumi, Jack Aitken and Anthoine Hubert.

In a very dark and ominous looking session the Mercedes F1 junior driver used all of his local knowledge to bring home a lap of 1:46.738 as the flag dropped, crushing his own best time as well as those of his rivals to take the top spot by over three tenths.

With rain threatening the circuit as the session opened all of the drivers except Bruno Baptista were straight out on track, with Niko Kari making the first competitive lap before Aitken claimed the top spot at the 8 minute mark and running even faster on his next circuit round. In a tight session Dorian Boccolacci was the next man on top, with Fukuzumi claiming it from him 20 minutes in, and then circulating even faster on his next lap.

The teams then concentrated on race pace until the closing minutes: Fukuzumi usurped his own top time with 3 minutes remaining just before Russell snuck ahead by a few thousands, with Aitken and Hubert setting their quickest laps right behind him before pitting, but as the flag dropped first Fukuzumi and then Russell went quicker again, building a bit of breathing room into their times.

Behind the ART foursome Leonardo Pulcini, Kari and Steijn Schothorst put their Arden’s next on the timesheets ahead of Giuliano Alesi, Julien Falchero and Santino Ferrucci rounding out the top ten: with many of the drivers back in the pits when the quickest laps were sent, tomorrow’s qualifying session is likely to look very different indeed.

Provisional Free Practice Classification

source: gp3series.com

Raoul Hyman has opened his win account in the most emphatic way possible by crushing his rivals in this morning’s Race 2 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, leading from lights to flag and controlling the race all the way through before easing off in the closing stages to win by a second from Giuliano Alesi and Nirei Fukuzumi.

The victory was set up at the start, with the South African making a blazing getaway from pole as the lights went out to easily lead the pack into turn 1, while behind him fellow front row starter Alessio Lorandi bogged down and couldn’t delay a strong getaway by Alesi and teammate Ryan Tveter, with the ART trio of Fukuzumi, Jack Aitken and George Russell just delayed enough into turn 1 to ensure the Trident pair had an easy run up to turn 2 to set up their first lap ahead of their ART rivals, Lorandi and Dorian Boccolacci.

Hyman and Alesi were clearly faster than anyone else today, with the pair pulling away from the rest of the field as the laps rolled down: Alesi tried to use his DRS to close on the South African but it was to no avail, as Hyman slowly pulled a gap over the Frenchman as he closed in on his first win. Behind them Fukuzumi was playing a waiting game as Tveter fell back into his grasp, and on the final lap he struck, using his DRS and better tyres to steal the podium from the American.

But the attention of the paddock was elsewhere: Hyman was greeting the chequered flag just ahead of Alesi, with Fukuzumi, a gutted Tveter, a satisfied Aitken and Russell running line astern towards the finish, but behind them Boccolacci was looked to attack Lorandi after following him all race long: the pair came together and the Frenchman was airborne before landing in a lurid set of rolls from which he happily walked away, while Lorandi limped to the line in P8, with Anthoine Hubert picking up a few unlikely positions for 7^th just ahead of him.

And with the weekend coming to a close it was Fukuzumi who now leads the Drivers’ Championship on 54 points, 1 ahead of teammate Russell with Hubert on 38, Lorandi on 32, Aitken on 28 and Hyman moving up to 25 points, while in the Teams’ Championship ART Grand Prix have built a big lead over their competitors with 159 points ahead of Trident on 60, Jenzer Motorsport on 54 and Campos Racing on 26 points ahead of next week’s round 3 in Silverstone.

Provisional Race 2 Classification