Race Report

2019 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix
FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit: Sochi (RUS), Length 5.848 km, 27^th - 29^th September 2019, Rounds 15 & 16
www.sochiautodrom.ru

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2019:
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN), Andreas Estner (D) and Charles Leong (MAC)

No luck in Sochi

The FIA F3 Teams met up at the intriguing Sochi (RUS) circuit, as ever in 2019 racing as one of the support races for the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Because this was the last event of 2019, and the winner of the championship and the following positions were not yet decided, an exciting weekend was in prospect. Competition was tough and everybody gave it their best shot to try and impress.

Race One Qualifying

Friday, 27/09/19, 13.00 – 13.30, Weather: Cloudy, 24°C

With Macau's Hon Chio (Charles) Leong, making his debut in the category with our team at this event, as well as Yuki and Andreas, we had three rookies at the start, none of whom had ever driven on this track before. In free practice, which took place early on Friday morning, they finished 22^nd, 27^th and 28^th.
A little later, the qualifying session took place and two of our drivers improved. Yuki finished 17^th and Andreas was 26^th. For Charles it was impossible to improve in the end because his exhaust broke which was a shame.

FIA F3 Championship

Race One (40 Minutes)

Saturday, 28/09/19, 10.15, Weather: Cloudy, 21°C

It rained in the night and dark clouds were looming over the circuit come the morning, although in some places the clouds were breaking and blue sky shone through. As a result everyone decided to start on slick tyres, only for there to be a sudden intense downpour during the first racing lap. Two drivers immediately headed into the pit lane to mount rain tyres. Two more cars spun off track, and Charles, who had already made up some places, slid off the track in a slippery spot and ended his race in the tyre wall. Luckily, he was unhurt. The Safety Car took charge of the field until all the affected cars were cleared away. The rain stopped, and soon those drivers who had changed tyres earlier were back in the pits again to change back to slicks! Yuki put in a great first lap and had already moved up to 12^th place. After that, he was in a group battling for positions. For some time he was ahead but he was overtaken again, and at the end he crossed the finish line in 12^th place. Andreas had kept his place and improved to 23^rd after the restart. A little later, he spun after sliding on the still slippery stretch of track. However, he was able to continue and finally finished the race in 24^th place.
Marcus Armstrong won the race ahead of Robert Shwartzman, but second place in the race was enough for Robert Shwartzman to become the first champion of the new FIA F3 Championship.

The grid for the second race of the weekend was set by reversing the order of the first eight finishers in the first race, with the rest of the places set according to finishing order in the first race.

FIA F3 Championship

Race Two (40 Minutes)

Sunday, 29/09/19, 09.55, Weather: Dry, 20°C

On Sunday morning, the sun was shining for the last race of the season. Yuki started well and overtook several cars on the first lap before getting into a battle with Verschoor, in which he finally prevailed to claim 7^th place. Shortly before the end of the race Yuki fell back and pulled into the pit lane at the end with a flat tyre. This prevented him from achieving an excellent result which was a real pity. Andreas was also doing well and he worked his way steadily forward, finishing the race in a good 18^th place. Charles now finally got the opportunity to experience a full race distance in such a powerful car. He drove well and completed the full distance this time, and finished 21^st.

On 20^th to 22^nd October 2019 the official post season test days of the 2019 FIA F3 championship will take place at Valencia (E), where new drivers will be able to prepare for the 2020 season.

Championship final standings after 16 races:

1^st Robert Shwartzman (RUS), 212 points; 2^nd Marcus Armstrong (NZ), 158 points; 3^rd Jehan Daruvala (IND), 157 points; 4^th Juri Vips (EST), 141 points; 5^th Pedro Piquet (BRA), 98 points; 6^th Christian Lundgaard (DK), 97 points; 9^th Yuki Tsunoda (JPN), 67 points

Yuki Tsunoda (JAP)

Andreas Estner (D)

Charles Leong (MAC)

© Photo Pellegrini

2019 FIA F3 Championship

For more information:

• www.fiaformula3.com
• www.italiaracing.net