F3: Rosenqvist wins disrupted race one

Felix Rosenqvist won a disrupted opening race in the Formula 3 European Championship at Silverstone. The Swede, from pole position, proved the master of three safety-car getaways to comfortably take the honors in his Prema Powerteam Dallara-Mercedes.

With Rosenqvist having to start last in the second and third races, he elected to use all four of his remaining fresh slick tires, and was able to keep the Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen of Antonio Giovinazzi at bay throughout the duration.

Earlier rain left the circuit mildly damp, leading to much criticism over the decision to start the race behind the safety car, with the entire field on slick tires.

As the field was released, Rosenqvist, Giovinazzi and Jake Dennis (Prema) got away, but behind them there was a tangle at Club corner as George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Brandon Maisano – the three leading series newcomers on the grid – all got together.

Russell dropped down to 18th place, while Leclerc was forced to the pits for a new front wing under the ensuing safety car (there was another collision further down the order) and Maisano was out of the race.

The incident elevated Alexander Albon to fourth, and the Thai briefly made it to third at the restart when Dennis made a mistake at the first corner, only for the Briton to repass him around the outside.

Lotus F1 Junior Albon stayed close to Dennis, but the Racing Steps Foundation-backed driver pulled away from the Signature car just before another safety car, caused when Alessio Lorandi understeered into the gravel trap at Luffield.

For the final three-lap dash to the flag, top rookie Albon was less focused on Dennis in front than keeping the Motopark car of Markus Pommer at bay, with Lance Stroll (Prema) and Gustavo Menezes (Carlin) in turn just behind.

Most of the late attention was focused on the blistering comeback drive from Russell. The 17-year-old Briton took his Carlin machine past Nicolas Beer around the outside into Stowe corner to take 11th, and he broke into the points on the penultimate lap when he passed Pietro Fittipaldi.

On the final lap, Russell dive-bombed Red Bull junior Callum Ilott into Brooklands, then swooped around the outside of Maximilian Gunther at Stowe to take eighth, with Gunther and Ilott completing the points scorers.

Despite having to pass two cars, Russell's final lap time was just 0.012 seconds adrift of Rosenqvist's fastest of the race.

Similarly impressive was Leclerc, who charged from 31st after his pit stop to take 12th, just behind Fittipaldi.

RESULTS - 15 LAPS:

Originally on Autosport.com