F3: Leclerc wins Spa Race 1 after rivals collide

Charles Leclerc took victory in a sensational Formula 3 European Championship race at Spa after a three-way battle with Felix Rosenqvist and Antonio Giovinazzi.

The Monegasque, who takes the championship lead after the first race of the weekend, took the lead when a collision between Giovinazzi and Rosenqvist sidelined the Italian with a puncture and sent the Swede down the escape road.

Leclerc started sixth on the grid with his Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara-Volkswagen, and the lead battle for much of the race was between Rosenqvist and Giovinazzi.

A rocket getaway from third on the starting lineup propeled Giovinazzi's Carlin Dallara-VW into the lead, but Rosenqvist drafted his Prema Powerteam Dallara-Mercedes into the lead along the Kemmel straight on lap two.

Giovinazzi took a while to regroup, but on the seventh lap of 16 he pulled off a great round-the-outside move on Rosenqvist to retake the lead at Les Combes. Three laps later Rosenqvist attempted the same manoeuvre, briefly nosing in front, only to run wide and allow Giovinazzi back in front.

This allowed Leclerc -- who had emerged from an early fight with Jake Dennis for third -- onto their tail, and he passed Rosenqvist in the Blanchimont sweepers for second, only for Rosenqvist to retake the position on the Kemmel straight.

On the 14th lap of 16, the three leaders all towed each other up Kemmel, but as Giovinazzi swept left to take his line he made contact with Rosenqvist, promoting Leclerc into the lead.

Up into third place came Alexander Albon for his first F3 podium, and the Signature team's first since it returned to F3. The Anglo-Thai survived early an early push wide at Blanchimont from Santino Ferrucci --- for which the American earned a warning flag --- and both would pass the fading Dennis.

Lotus F1 junior Albon spent the rest of the race gaining on the leaders, while Mucke Motorsport driver Ferrucci set fastest lap as he battled to fourth.

Dennis only just fended off top Carlin finisher George Russell, who fought from the sixth row to claim sixth.

Mikkel Jensen came through to seventh from Pietro Fittipaldi, who initially headed a mighty five-car battle for sixth before losing out in the intense fighting.

The points scorers were rounded out by Fabian Schiller (scoring his first F3 points from a 10th-row start) and Alessio Lorandi, who rose from a 13th-row start due to an engine-change grid penalty to deny Sam MacLeod (who'd recovered from a spin after contact with Ryan Tveter) on the last lap.

Ferrari protege Lance Stroll earned a drive-through penalty for contact early in the race, then was given a stop-go penalty after a collision with Tatiana Calderon.

RESULT