F3 Race Report, Budapest
Title hopeful Luke Browning remains in touch with the championship lead, despite a tumultuous weekend at the Hungaroring. After leapfrogging Lindblad on Saturday to take second in the standings, he also outscored current leader Mini by three points this weekend, which reduces the gap from seven points to four.
After a positive start in Practice, a similarly strong qualifying performance took an unfortunate turn when the Williams Academy Driver spun into the barriers on his final flying lap. This prompted the session to be red-flagged and brought to a premature conclusion, which incurred the penalty of Luke’s fastest time being deleted. Consequently, he would start both races from 15th on the grid. Martinius and Cian would have a similarly challenging start from 22nd and 24th places.
In Saturday’s 18-lap Sprint Race, Luke made good progress through the field and by lap 6 he was up to ninth with a switchback on Sami Meguetounif into Turn 2. He gained a further place to finish eighth, accruing enough crucial points to surpass Lindland in the title race. Martinius and Cian were similarly improving through the Sprint, the McLaren Academy Driver executing a fantastic and brave move on Mini around the outside at Turn 4 for 13th, while Cian finished in P21.
Sunday’s Feature Race, reduced to 23 laps by the need for an extra formation lap, saw all three drivers improve from their grid positions. Luke gained three places to finish 12th, Martinius ended the race nine places ahead of his 11th row start slot, and Cian moving up seven positions to finish 17th.
Luke now has 115 points to Mini’s 119, with two rounds and four race opportunities remaining. The team has slipped back to fifth in the standings, so the focus will be on recovering the five points to Campos at Spa and Monza.
Sprint Race Result – Saturday
Luke Browning – 8th (3 points)
Martinius Stenshorne – 13th
Cian Shields – 21st
Feature Race Result – Sunday
Luke Browning – 12th
Martinius Stenshorne – 13th
Cian Shields – 17th
Up next, Round 9 of the campaign takes the Formula 3 grid to Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps (26-28 July)
