Preview
Your guide to... Zandvoort
Round 6 of the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship gets under way this weekend at Zandvoort Circuit.
WHEN TO WATCH All times local (GMT +2)
Friday Free Practice: 10:05 Qualifying: 13:50 Press conference: 16:05 Saturday Race 1: 10:35 Press conference: 11:40 Race 2: 17:55 Press conference: 19:00 Sunday Race 3: 10:45 Press conference: 11:50
THE STORY SO FAR
The penultimate round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship gets underway at Zandvoort Circuit this weekend, with the title battle set to recommence just days after a dramatic round amidst the pouring rain in Spa-Francorchamps.
A spectacular weekend for Trident’s Jack Doohan saw the Australian re-ignite the title fight, slicing Dennis Hauger’s Championship lead in half. The Red Bull junior set himself up for his 44-point weekend by claiming his maiden pole in Friday’s Qualifying session, with an early tour of the 7.004km circuit that was 0.7s quicker than second-placed Victor Martins.
The first race of the weekend saw triumph for Campos Racing’s Lorenzo Colombo, who claimed his first Formula 3 victory in treacherous conditions after being denied a maiden win by a time penalty in Race 1 at Budapest. The Italian finished ahead of Hitech Grand Prix duo Jak Crawford and Roman Stanek, with Crawford’s rostrum making him Formula 3’s youngest ever podium sitter.
It was a second win of the season for Doohan in Race 2, who started from reverse pole and led a Trident one-two ahead of teammate David Schumacher at the chequered flag. Charouz Racing System’s Logan Sargeant, who managed to pass ART Grand Prix’s Frederik Vesti at the start claimed third, collecting a second podium in as many rounds for the Czech team.
Sunday’s Race 3 saw more rain fall over the Ardennes, but Doohan appeared undaunted by the task at hand, putting on a display of defiant defending to hold off an assertive drive from Martins. ART’s Alexander Smolyar crossed the line in P3, adding a third podium finish to his tally for this season. Doohan’s victory makes him the first Formula 3 driver to win twice in a single round and takes him level with Hauger when it comes to victories this season. Carlin Buzz Racing’s Kaylen Frederick has made a full recovery after testing positive for Covid-19 ahead of Round 5 in Spa-Francorchamps. The American driver returns to action in car #24 this weekend.
THE CHALLENGERS
Dennis Hauger (158 points) is now just 25 points ahead of Jack Doohan (133) after the Australian’s highest ever point scoring round in Belgium. Frederik Vesti moves (101) up one position to third, narrowly Victor Martins (96) in fourth. Alexander Smolyar (92) and Clément Novalak (92) sit in fifth and sixth respectively, with the Russian ahead on countback.
READ MORE: Bruno Michel’s debrief: Doohan definitely put pressure on his title rival
PREMA Racing (290) continue to lead the Team’s Championship, but their advantage has been slashed to just 16 points following an impressive round from Trident (274) who collected nine top 12 finishes and 80 points in Spa. ART Grand Prix (202) sit in third ahead of MP Motorsport (159) in fourth, and Hitech Grand Prix (86) in fifth.
FROM THE GRID – TIJMEN VAN DER HELM (MP MOTORSPORT)
“They've improved a lot on the circuit since I drove there last year with Formula Renault Eurocup. When I drove there in 2020, it was really the first time I'd driven single-seaters at the circuit. It was a bit boring because we didn't have DRS in Formula Renault so we couldn't really overtake. Hopefully, that will change this year being there with Formula 3 and we'll have some good action on track!
“Tyre wear is not that bad at Zandvoort because there are not too many fast corners where you push that hard on during a race so I think we will manage it. The best place for an overtake depends on the action, but I think the straights will probably be the best overtaking spots. Although if somebody leaves the door open on the corner and there is an opportunity, I'll go for it.
“It would be great to get a result this weekend, of course, it will be a lot better because the home crowd is there and lots of Dutch people will come to the race. I always look weekend by weekend at how it's going. Hopefully, we'll qualify around twelfth, so we make it into the reverse grid have a chance to get a good result and score some points.”
TYRE TALK – MARIO ISOLA (PIRELLI’S HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING)
“The Dutch Grand Prix is a new adventure for everyone, so there will be a lot to learn at what is set to be a very exciting new venue. The latest circuit configuration looks somewhat different to the original track that was used to host the GP till 1985, now offering big demands banked corners that take a lot of energy out of the tyres, As well as learning the new track in general, the drivers will also have to deal with this unique aspect, using the P Zero White hard tyre that’s nominated for this weekend."
READ MORE: Hauger plays down title deficit, insisting that PREMA have ‘got the pace to beat’ Doohan
STAT PACK • At 4.295 KM long Circuit Zandvoort is the shortest circuit on the 2021 Formula 3 calendar. The Red Bull ring is just 0.059KM longer at 4.318 KM. • Race 1 in Zandvoort will mark the 50th race since the modern era of Formula 3 began back in 2019. • The first five rounds of the season have produced 10 different races winners, a new Formula 3 record. In both the 2020 and 2019 seasons, there were nine race different winners. • After Lorenzo Colombo and Jak Crawford’s maiden podiums in Spa, 18 drivers from nine different teams have stood on the podium, also a new Formula 3 record. • Jak Crawford now holds the title of Formula 3’s youngest ever podium sitter, at just 16 years 3 months and 26 days old. • Two drivers, Dennis Hauger and Jack Doohan, are now three-time race winners this season. Hauger also has a further four podiums, while Doohan has a further three. • There have been four pole-sitters this season (Hauger, Leclerc, Doohan & Vesti). Just one driver, Hauger, has been on pole more than once this year.