F3: Piquet confident of step forward

Two-time Brazilian Formula 3 champion Pedro Piquet believes he can make a big step forward in the F3 European Championship after coming close to points on his series debut at Paul Ricard.

The 17-year-old son of three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson finished 11th in race one after losing 10th place in the closing stages to Van Amersfoort Racing teammate Callum Ilott. He was in a fight just outside the top 10 in the second race before contact with Niko Kari on the final lap dropped him down the field, while he retired from the final race with suspension damage.

Piquet, who topped the first free practice session because he was one of the drivers to get flying laps in before rain fell, said he needs to get adjust to the Hankook tires used in European F3.

"I think in testing we were pretty good, but in Q1 I was one of the first to cross the line [on a drying track] after the flag and I didn't get a lap," he related. "Then in Q2, the thing is in Brazil we ran Pirelli tires and they are very stable through the whole race, even though Pirelli are known for not being the best in that aspect!

"This tire is really difficult – it takes four or five laps to warm up and then you quickly lose half a second, and maybe the high-speed corners here kill the tire a bit."

Piquet is being engineered by Felipe Vargas, who ran older brother Nelson Jr.'s British F3 team in 2003 and '04 and returned to the sport after several years away to look after his 2014 and '15 Brazilian program.

"The first races were OK," said Piquet. "We were on the same pace as the middle of the field and Felipe is helping me a lot – I'm learning more every day and I'm sure we can be competitive.

"Now I know what European F3 is all about, and I will be better at the Hungaroring [the next round]. I have driven the track in a Porsche [Supercup car], I know the track and I will be very prepared."

Team boss Frits van Amersfoort added: "Pedro just needs a little time.

"If you're at the top level in your own country, it's a bit of a shock when you get here. But he comes from a racing family, a family I admire very much, and I'm sure he will come over the course of the season."

Nelson Piquet's first European single-seater race was also at Paul Ricard in the FIA's European F3 Championship. He crashed his March out of his heat in the 1977 season opener. The final was won by Beppe Gabbiani in a field that also included Stefan Johansson, Elio de Angelis and John Nielsen.

Before last weekend, it was the only FIA European F3 Championship round ever to take place at the venue.

Originally on Autosport.com