Lawson 9th as Zendeli wins Race 1 at Spa

Trident’s Lirim Zendeli took his first ever FIA Formula 3 win with a faultless lights-to-flag performance around the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, finishing 4.7s ahead of ART Grand Prix’s Théo Pourchaire.

The German ensured there could be no repeat of his last lap denial at Silverstone, when Bent Viscaal past him on the final turn of the race, by putting a solid gap between himself and Pourchaire in P2.

Trident’s day got even better when David Beckmann took the final podium position, while Olli Caldwell claimed his third points finish in seventh.

Kiwi Liam Lawson came home in ninth after initially moving up to fifth. Piastri had no trouble getting ahead of Verschoor for sixth, but the battle to catch his title rival, Lawson, was proving a little more troublesome. The duo went wheel-to-wheel and kissed tyres, which forced them both wide. Piastri found himself ahead when they returned to the road, but let the Hitech man back in front in a bid to avoid a potential penalty.

Sargeant warned his team he was having issues from fifth, as Piastri overtook Lawson cleanly. The Kiwi was also on the radio telling Hitech he was having issues. Sargeant was desperately battling to avoid the same outcome, well aware that if the Australian passed him he would take the Championship lead.

Alex Smolyar also sealed his best ever finish in F3, taking fourth ahead of new Championship leader Oscar Piastri. The Australian made the most of mechanical troubles for Logan Sargeant, getting ahead in the final few laps and taking first place in the standings with it. The American eventually dropped down to eighth.

Piastri now sits in first place in the Drivers’ Championship on 140 points, five ahead of Sargeant. Beckmann is up to third with 109.5, while Lawson is fourth on 101, and Pourchaire fifth on 100. In the Teams’ Championship, PREMA remain first with 353.5 points, ahead of Trident on 194.5 and ART Grand Prix on 157. Hitech Grand Prix are fourth, followed by MP Motorsport.

Race 1 Results