F3: Rosenqvist takes points lead with win

Felix Rosenqvist controlled the second Formula 3 European championship race at the Algarve, and with victory moved top of the standings ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi. Prema Powerteam secured a podium lockout as its dominant weekend continued, with Jake Dennis and Lance Stroll following Rosenqvist to the flag.

Rosenqvist made an impressive getaway from the off, but his two restarts following safety car periods were also strong and denied his team-mates any opportunity to attack. His first restart, following Matt Rao's retirement that left his front wing on track, caught the field out as the Swede slowed to crawling pace before launching ahead to maintain his gap.

The second caution period came when Nick Cassidy suffered his second consecutive retirement after crashing at Turn 1, leaving Rosenqvist with a short run to the flag.

While it was comfortable at the front, Gustavo Menezes was Prema's nearest rival and had to contend with a train of cars behind him on each restart. He was warned by the stewards for an overly aggressive defense of his position against George Russell, before Cassidy's retirement late on gave him fourth ahead of Russell.

The Brit was constantly on the rear of Menezes and tried repeatedly for a way past, allowing Pietro Fittipaldi to close in on his tail. With the Fortec driver so close, he relented on Menezes to consolidate fifth.

Charles Leclerc and Giovinazzi's difficult weekends in Algarve continued, with Leclerc in seventh and Giovinazzi improving to eighth, and their low point scores only aided Rosenqvist's title charges.

America's Santino Ferrucci put in another charge, moving his way through the order from 18th to finish 10th behind Mikkel Jensen.

Stewards were kept busy throughout, with Alessio Lorandi notably picking up a drive-through penalty for abusing track limits. Lorandi could count himself unfortunate to be the only one penalized, with consistent and repeated track limit offenses going unpunished.

Originally on Autosport.com