Eriksson goes lights-to-flag for F3 win at Red Bull Ring

Joel Eriksson (Motopark) scored a lights-to-flag victory at the Red Bull Ring, his fifth win in the 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship season. Behind the Swedish BMW junior driver, whose most recent victory to date came in Hungary in mid-June, Brit Lando Norris (Carlin) finished second. Russian driver Nikita Mazepin (Hitech Grand Prix) secured third place. Maximilian Gunther (Prema Powerteam), who is the only remaining rival of McLaren-backed Norris in the battle for the title after this race, was classified seventh and is now 82 points down on championship leader Norris.

Eriksson started from pole position and immediately took the lead. Norris slotted in behind him, followed by Mazepin and Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam). The Brit put Mazepin under pressure, particularly in the opening stages of the race, but was unable to find a way past the Force India protégé. Thus, Mazepin secured his second podium finish in this year's FIA Formula 3 European Championship season. 

"My start was perfect," Eriksson said. "On the opening lap, I had to defend my lead, but it was a relatively calm race after that. I tried to save my tires, but I was still able to keep a good speed. The only minor issue I had during the race is that I lost my right rear-view mirror. Otherwise, it was a smooth affair."

Said Norris: "On the opening lap, I tried to overtake Joel, but he had the better position and did a good job in defending his lead. After that, I didn't have a possibility to attack him, especially as it was also difficult to follow him closely. As there wasn't much I could do, I am also happy with second place."

In the race that didn't have too much action, the positions behind Ilott were also taken quite early. Jehan Daruvala (Carlin), who, like Mazepin, is supported by the Force India Formula 1 team, finished as the second-best rookie in fifth place, followed by Ralf Aron (Hitech Grand Prix) and Jake Hughes (Hitech Grand Prix). Due to causing Ferdinand Habsburg to go off track in the last lap, Hughes was penalized with a 10-second time penalty after the race, thus only classified in 13th position.

Habsburg (Carlin), the only Austrian in the field, was in eighth place until the final lap, but lost his position to Gunther. Joey Mawson (Van Amersfoort Racing) also overtook the 20-year-old, so that Habsburg eventually crossed the line in 10th place. Due to the penalty imposed on Hughes those three drivers were promoted by one position each. The one point awarded for finishing in 10th place was inherited by Mick Schumacher (Prema Powerteam).