Nannini passes Fittipaldi for first F3 win at Hungaroring

Formula 3

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Matteo Nannini scored his first Formula 3 win after passing pole-winner Enzo Fittipaldi in today’s second race at the Hungaroring.

Fittipaldi was able to keep the lead off the line but an incredibly rapid start from third by Nannini saw him take Roman Staněk’s place into the first corner.

Behind them various sorts of mayhem started to unfold. Victor Martins stalled on the grid, then Olli Caldwell and Oliver Rasmussen collided at turn two, sending both cars into the pits for repairs. Although both returned to the track, they were by that point at the back of the pack with few prospects for the remaining 20 laps.

The two drivers with famous surnames – Nannini is the nephew of Alessandro, Fittipaldi the grandson of Emerson – changed positions four laps in. Nannini sent a pass up the inside of his rival at turn two and neatly took the lead.

Jack Doohan’s engineer told him Fittipaldi, now second, was “struggling” by lap six Doohan was in trouble himself and began to slip back the order. Tyre wear played a significant role for the remainder of the race on a cooling but still extremely warm track, which punished the medium compound tyres drivers had started with.

Nannini was given a track limits warning at turn 11 on lap six and again on lap 11, for the same place, with his engineer reinforcing that it was a second warning. Fittipaldi was told on lap 12 to put pressure on Nannini and force him into more mistakes.

On lap 14, Dennis Hauger started what would turn into a fairly lengthy battle with David Schumacher. The two were able to pass Doohan together and looked set to fight with Alexander Smolyar ahead but got somewhat distracted by each other. Schumacher ultimately ended up ahead for fifth but Hauger stayed close behind, waiting for another opportunity.

By the final laps, Doohan was in dire straits with his tyres. By lap 20 the fourth-placed starter had slipped back to 13th as he struggled to the chequered flag on dogeared Pirelli rubber.

Schumacher was in similar circumstances when Hauger came for another attempt at swapping places. The Trident driver attempted to defend but Hauger finally claimed fifth place on lap 21.

Nannini took the chequered flag with Fittipaldi holding on to second and Staněk keeping third despite continued pressure from Smolyar. Fittipaldi and Staněk also made their first podium appearances in Formula 3.

Hauger extends his dominant lead in the championship, with second-place Caldwell not scoring from this race. Formula 3’s Friday qualifying grid will be used to decide the order for tomorrow’s third race of the weekend, with Arthur Leclerc on pole.

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Formula 3 race two results

PositionCarDriverTeam
114Matteo NanniniHWA
230Enzo FittipaldiCharouz
312Roman StanekHitech
48Alexander SmolyarART
51Dennis HaugerPrema
66David SchumacherTrident
721Lorenzo ColomboCampos
85Clement NovalakTrident
929Logan SargeantCharouz
1011Ayumu IwasaHitech
112Arthur LeclercPrema
1218Caio ColletMP
134Jack DoohanTrident
149Juan Manuel CorreaART
1519Tijmen van der HelmMP
167Frederik VestiART
1724Jake HughesCarlin
1831Reshad De GerusCharouz
1927Johnathan HoggardJenzer
2028Filip-Ioan UgranJenzer
2110Jak CrawfordHitech
2216Rafael VillagomezHWA
2320Laszlo TothCampos
2426Calan WilliamsJenzer
2517Victor MartinsMP
2625Jonny EdgarCarlin
2723Ido CohenCarlin
2815Oliver RasmussenHWA
293Olli CaldwellPrema
3022Amaury CordeelCampos

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Author information

Hazel Southwell
Hazel is a motorsport and automotive journalist with a particular interest in hybrid systems, electrification, batteries and new fuel technologies....

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2 comments on “Nannini passes Fittipaldi for first F3 win at Hungaroring”

  1. Mr. Michel, if what you wanted was to allow the mediocre to win in order to keep their hopes up, so they continue to spend astronomical ammounts of money on your championship; you have succeeded. In other case, the new F2 and F3 format is an absolute failure.

    1. I find the new format suitable for F3 and the other F3 championships though. No lie.

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