Talking points from Spielberg

With the dust settled at the end of an enthralling FIA Formula 3 race weekend, at The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, we take a look at four talking points from the track.

PREMA THE TEAM TO BEAT

Who else had their money on PREMA to start the season in first place? The team may have an all-new driver line-up for 2020, but it was business as usual for the 2019 champions, as Oscar Piastri ran to victory in the season opener.

On first look, the highly rated Renault rookie looks to be well worth the pre-season hype. The 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup champion clearly hadn’t lost the winner’s touch in the break from racing and surged from third to first in the opening laps, before coolly running to victory.

LAWSON DELIVERS

Big things are expected of Liam Lawson in 2020, but things didn’t initially go to plan. The Hitech Grand Prix racer struggled to 12th in Qualifying –admitting that the team had a few issues - which put him on the backfoot for the opening race. The Kiwi drove impressively to sixth, but would have wanted to start the season off with a trophy.

Lawson has said that he’s learned how to deal with pressure better this season and going by his showing on Sunday, he certainly has. Rising from fifth to first, the Red Bull junior was untouchable.

More performances like that from himself and Hitech Grand Prix, and PREMA will have a very tough fight on their hands.

PERONI’S BACK WITH A BANG

Undoubtedly the feel-good story of the weekend was Alex Peroni’s return to racing, following his recovery from a back injury suffered in a crash in Monza last September.

His return could hardly have gone better. Peroni scored his and Campos’ first podium in F3 with a determined drive in Race 1 and says that he is now eying up his first win. Fans will be watching his progress closely

FERNANDEZ REDEEMS HIMSELF

There were more misses than hits in Fernández’s first weekend with ART Grand Prix, but the Spaniard did at least score his first Championship points of the year, Qualifying on pole.

Race 1 was a disaster for him though, as he crashed out in the first lap. Race 2 may not have brought about any points either, but he did at least redeem himself with a sublime performance. Rising from the back of the grid to 13th was mightily impressive and shows just how much speed he possesses.

If he can harness that same determination and skill from the front, a first podium won’t be far away.