Lance Stroll and Anthoine Hubert triumphed in Formula 3 races at Norisring

Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteram) and Anthoine Hubert (Van Amersfoort Racing) shared the winners’ honors today at Norisring, after each of them won one race of the fifth round of the Formula 3 European Championship. For Stroll, it was fourth seasons victory and he extended his lead in the championship. For rookie Hubert, it was a maiden F3 victory.

The 17-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll was fastest in the qualifying and started the Race 1 from the pole position. He remained in the lead until lap 4, when Joel Eriksson passed by him. Meanwhile, Callum Ilott progressed from 12th to third place. On lap 20, Ilott braked too late and collected Eriksson, causing both drivers to retire. Stroll inherited the lead and remained in front until the end.

Soon after restart, Sergio Sette Camara and Guanyu Zhou collided while battling for third place and retired as well. After this incident, the safety car was deployed for the second time. After the second restart, Finnish rookie Niko Kari claimed second place, ahead of Nick Cassidy. After the finish, the New Zealander was given a five seconds’ penalty for a safety car infringement. Thus, George Russell, Ralf Aron and Ben Barnicoat were classified ahead of Cassidy.

F3 European Championship, Norisring, Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll scored his fourth victory and extended the championship lead

In Race 2, Anthoine Hubert started from pole because Callum Ilott, the fastest driver in qualifying, changed the engine and he was moved ten places down at the grid. At the start, Hubert defended his lead from Lance Stroll and position remained unchanged until the end. Maximilian Günther jumped to the third place in the opening lap and stayed there. Behind leading trio there were few changes, at the end Nick Cassidy finished fourth, ahead of Joel Eriksson.

The race was interrupted three times with Safety car interventions. On lap 3, Ben Barnicoat went to wall after a contact with Ryan Tveter. On lap 18, teammates Niko Kari and Sergio Sette Camara collided, Camara was forced to retire. Third big accident happened on lap 28, when William Buller locked the wheels at hairpin and collected Harrison Newey.