The second triple-header of the season concludes this weekend, as Barcelona hosts Round 6 of the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Five incredible FIA Formula 3 Championship rounds have produced plenty of drama and excitement, and last weekend was certainly no exception. Logan Sargeant dominated Round 5’s Race 1 to take the championship lead with his first F3 win, before Bent Viscaal snatched his maiden victory at this level on the last lap of Race 2.
Trident’s David Beckmann had been the man to catch during Friday’s Free Practice, topping the timesheets for the third time this season. The German was unable to maintain his pace in Qualifying however, as Sargeant fired home quickest for his second successive Silverstone pole to become the first double pole-sitter of the season.
The American was on a mission – having failed to convert pole position into victory in Round 4, he was determined to make amends. The PREMA ace launched off the line to lead into the first corner, and never looked like relinquishing it in a composed lights-to-flag win that saw him overtake teammate Oscar Piastri to top the Drivers’ Championship. Jake Hughes finished second on track for his first podium of the season, ahead of Liam Lawson.
Sunday’s remarkable action provided yet another first-time F3 winner. Lirim Zendeli and Viscaal were a class apart, with the Dutchman hanging on to Zendeli’s rear wing for 19 laps, before an epic last lap showdown resulted in a sprint to the line from the final corner. Viscaal took his, and MP Motorsport’s, first F3 victory, while Théo Pourchaire clung on for a podium in third.
THE CHALLENGERS
Sargeant (106 pts) now leads the Drivers’ Championship by just a single point ahead of fellow PREMA racer Piastri (105). Beckmann (82.5) is 22.5 points behind them in third. Lawson (77) climbs up to fourth, with Frederik Vesti (70.5) fifth.
With all three of their drivers in the top five of the standings, PREMA Racing (281.5 pts) lead the way in the Teams’ Championship. Trident (132.5) sit second, having opened a gap to ART Grand Prix (114) in third. Hitech Grand Prix (96) are fourth, ahead of MP Motorsport (83).
ust seven weeks since the season began, the unrelenting pace of the 2020 campaign continues this weekend as the paddock heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for Round 6. Teams and drivers will once again fight it out on Pirelli’s hard compound tyre, balancing risk and reward in their quest for glory. We’re all set for more spectacular Formula 3 action.
FIA Formula 3 Championship Points Top 6:
1/ Sargeant, 106 points
2/ Piastri, 105
3/ Beckmann, 82.5
4/ Lawson, 77
5/ Vesti, 70.5
6/ Pourchaire, 69
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