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A turbulent race, another win for Rosenqvist

31.05.15
The eleventh race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season turned out to be extremely turbulent.

At the end of twelve action-packed laps of racing, 23-year-old Swede Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam) celebrated a victory for the second time on this day. By finishing second, 19-year-old Briton Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam) ensured that the Italian Prema Powerteam had two of its drivers on the podium. Third place in the race at the 5.793 kilometres long Monza Grand Prix circuit went to Mikkel Jensen (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), who also was the best rookie driver. Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), who retired from his home race after a collision with Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam), remains in the lead of the drivers’ standings. 

At the start of the race, Rosenqvist took the lead while Dennis managed to overtake Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing). In the process, the two tangled, for which the 17-year-old Monegasque had to pay with a bent left front suspension, resulting in his retirement. After further collisions in the midfield, race control sent the safety car out. Only one lap after the restart, Giovinazzi and Stroll battled for fifth place, which ended with another collision. The 16-year-old Canadian barrel-rolled his car, but remained unscathed. This brought the safety car out for the second time in this race.

On lap ten, German rookie driver Maximilian Günther (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) spun after battle including a collision with French rookie driver Dorian Boccolacci (Signature). Almost at the same time, Italian driver Michele Beretta (kfzeile24 Mücke Motorsport) barrel-rolled his car after a collision, but remained unscathed, just like Stroll. That was reason enough for another safety car intervention. As Alessio Lorandi (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Matthew Rao (Fortec Motorsports) couldn’t avoid a collision just after the third restart, the race was stopped and not restarted shortly before the scheduled end.

Out in front, Felix Rosenqvist scored his fourth FIA Formula 3 European Championship season victory. Jake Dennis, Mikkel Jensen, Santino Ferrucci, Gustavo Menezes (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), George Russell (Carlin), Brandon Maïsano (Prema Powerteam), Markus Pommer (Motopark), Pietro Fittipaldi (Fortec Motorsports) and Raoul Hyman (Team West-Tec F3) completed the top ten in this order.

Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam): “For me, the race was though, because Jake kept me under pressure all the time. Had I made one mistake, he would have overtaken me. Battling with such a fair driver like Jake was great fun. At the end, however, I was glad that the race was over and that I had first place in the bag.”

Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam): “I had a fierce duel with Charles Leclerc in the first corner and we tangled. I was glad that my car remained undamaged in this collision and that I was able to continue. Felix and I were certainly the fastest drivers in this race. My plan was to follow behind Felix and then to mount a challenge towards the end. Because of the red flag at the end, that didn’t work out, but I am also happy with second place.”

Mikkel Jensen (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport): “The start was rather turbulent and I slotted into third place. Having made a mistake at one of the restarts, my team-mate Santino Ferrucci almost overtook me. The other restarts went better for me.”