Rosenqvist bags Brands Hatch Race 2 podium

Felix Rosenqvist continued to feature among the frontrunners as the FIA Formula 3 European Championship visited the British venue of Brands Hatch this weekend.

Felix Rosenqvist

Photo by: XPB Images

The Swede took the chequered flag in fourth place in the opening race of the meeting and went on to add further valuable points to his tally by coming home fifth among the 29 runners in Saturday’s Race 2, before being propelled onto the podium in Sunday’s concluding Race 3 after championship rival Raffaele Marciello was disqualified for a technical infringement.

Rosenqvist enjoyed a strong start to the weekend, as he immediately topped the opening free practice session on Friday afternoon. The 21-year-old Mücke Motorsport youngster then went on to go third fastest in qualifying, where he was one of just four drivers – and the only one not racing for reigning champions Prema Powerteam – to dip below the 41-second mark.

Due to a Brands Hatch-specific qualifying structure, however – aimed at reducing traffic around the 1.9 km venue by splitting the field into two groups – Rosenqvist was forced to start all three of the weekend’s races from fifth on the grid; leaving him with little room for a victory assault given the exceptionally tight confines and limited overtaking opportunities at the British track.

“I always aim to win and will never be satisfied unless I do – but at the same time, we have to realize that we probably made the most out of the cards we had on hand this weekend,” says Felix Rosenqvist.

“The level of competition in this championship is incredible, and a good example of that played out to my disadvantage in qualifying; where one hundredth of a second meant the vital difference between third and fifth on the grid for Sunday’s final race.

It’s just impossible to overtake around here, and I personally don’t think this is what racing should be about; if you’re faster than the car in front, you have to be given a fair chance of getting ahead.

Considering how things transpired, we have to be happy with having scored yet another podium on a weekend when not everything worked out in our favour. Big thanks to the team for having given me a fast and reliable car.”

The next round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship takes place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria in two weeks. Felix Rosenqvist currently remains in second place in the overall standings.

Felix Racing