Zandvoort: Maximum points and new tension in the championship

Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) and the 4.307 kilometres long circuit in the dunes of Zandvoort - a perfect patch. Still, the fact that the Swede would walk away from the eighth season meeting of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship with the maximum score of 75 points, came somewhat surprisingly. While title rival Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam) only scored twelve points after an unfortunate weekend, Rosenqvist came within 9.5 points from Raffaele Marciello, who is still the leader in the drivers’ standings.

The duel between Marciello and Rosenqvist for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title is becoming a thrilling affair: after the Italian, a protégé of the Ferrari Driver Academy, had established a margin of 74.5 points at the Nürburgring in mid-August, things went less well at Zandvoort. On the other hand, Felix Rosenqvist won three times: a second place behind Daniil Kvyat (Carlin), a guest driver who is not eligible to score points, and a pair of first places brought Rosenqvist a total of 75 points.

“This weekend was nearly perfect,” the Mücke driver enthused. The fact that Marciello failed to find the speed to run at the front throughout the weekend also helped him. In the first race the Prema driver finished fifth, in the second race, he failed to score points in 16th place. In the third race, Marciello retired by his own fault. “Now, we have to work to find back the speed,” he summed up in a disappointed way.

Next to Rosenqvist, Daniil Kvyat also picked up a winner’s trophy. “At last. I have now started from pole position into a Formula 3 race for the fifth time and finally I managed to turn the best starting grid position into a victory,” the delighted Red Bull junior driver said. As a guest driver, he is not eligible to score points. Thus, Felix Rosenqvist also achieved the maximum score in the first race.

One day later, the Carlin team had another premiere as Jordan King finished second for the first time in the current FIA Formula 3 European Championship season. “For me, Zandvoort has paid off. I was able to make up two places in the drivers’ standings and I am now sixth. And I want to move up even further in the two final meetings of the season.”

On October 12 and 13, the battle for the European Championship title has its next round at Vallelunga (I). One week later, the season finale will take place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D), October 18-20.

FIA Formula 3 European Championship