F3: Rosenqvist leads Prema sweep again

Prema Powerteam repeated its 1-2-3 in the Formula 3 European Championship finale at the Algarve circuit, with points leader Felix Rosenqvist winning for the second time this weekend.

As in the previous race, Jake Dennis followed the Swede across the line ahead of Ferrari protege Lance Stroll, meaning Prema took its third race win in a row, split between Dennis and Rosenqvist.

Rosenqvist had a comfortable run to victory in a chaotic race that featured a single safety car after championship rival Antonio Giovinazzi pushed Markus Pommer wide in the opening laps, before an unsighted Maximilian Gunther hit the back of Pommer and forced both to retire.

The race leader produced an excellent restart to cling onto his lead while Dennis's comparatively slower launch opened the door for Stroll to probe for a way past, with the Canadian just missing out on second. It proved to be the only opportunity for a shake-up in the leading pack, as Rosenqvist then cruised to victory ahead of his teammates.

George Russell was the driver who proved closest to the front trio, driving a relatively lonely race to fourth for Carlin before Sergio Sette Camara closed in on the final few laps to pressure the Brit on his way to fifth. Their battle also allowed Pietro Fittipaldi to draw close, but he was too far away to involve himself as he completed the race in sixth.

Charles Leclerc's difficult weekend continued and the Van Amersfoort Racing driver could only finish seventh, making little inroads on the top six.

Behind him was a continued state of flux with Giovinazzi coming out on top for eighth. The title hopeful had to overcome Lotus F1 junior Dorian Boccolacci initially before surviving a late push from Prema's Nick Cassidy, who again failed to match his teammates' results.

Boccolacci then continued to fall further down the order, handing Cassidy ninth, before rallying to finish 10th ahead of Callum Ilott.

Alexander Sims' one-off return with HitechGP ended with the combination's best result of the weekend with 13th, Sims having had the disadvantage of starting each race from the pitlane as a guest entry.

RESULTS - 20 LAPS:

Originally on Autosport.com