Race Report

Formula 1 Magyar Nagydij Grand Prix 2023
FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit: Hungaroring (HU), Length 4,381 km, 21^st - 23^rd July 2023, Rounds 13 + 14
www.hungaroring.hu

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2023:
Nikita Bedrin (ITA), Taylor Barnard (GB), Alejandro Garcia (MEX)

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Bedrin shines with first podium at the Hungaroring

The FIA F3 Championship competed in its sixth event on the Formula 1 Aramco Magyar Nagydij 2023 programme on the fluid, challenging Hungaroring near Budapest (HU). Overtaking on this track was usually not very easy, and the drivers were challenged in terms of tyre management and adherence to track limits.

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Qualifying

Friday, 21/07/23, 15.05 – 15.35, Weather: Cloudy, 23°C

Usually dry and hot, the weekend started with a surprising weather as temperatures in the morning were very fresh. As the lights turned green on the practice session, most of the drivers waited in the pitlane and real action only started in the second half of the session. A red flag with 5 minutes to go meant an early end to practice with Taylor taking 13^th place, followed by Nikita in 14^th and Alejandro in 27^th.
Rain started falling one hour before the qualifying session but by the time the F3 field made its way to the pitlane, it had already stopped and the track was drying quickly. Slick tyres were fitted and the session got started. A brief red flag interrupted the action with 22 minutes to go and when it went back to green, all the drivers went out to complete two runs. Nikita qualified in a brilliant 11^th place, taking the second spot on the grid for the Sprint race. Taylor and Alejandro had a more complicated session, with the British driver taking 17^th place and the Mexican 26^th.

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FIA F3 Championship

Race One (Sprint-Race, 40 Minutes)

Saturday, 22/07/23, 09.50, Weather: Sunny, 23°C

The Sprint Race got underway on Saturday morning with Nikita starting from the 2^nd spot on the grid. When the lights went out, Nikita had a superb getaway and passed poleman Gabriele Mini on the outside going into Turn 1. It was now Nikita who was leading the way of the 30 car strong field. Behind, Taylor and Alejandro kept it clean at the start and stayed out of trouble and were able to make up some places. By the end of the opening laps, Taylor was in 16^th place and Alejandro was up to 22^nd position. With Mini on his heels, Nikita, our rookie, made no mistakes and kept a cool head leading the race during eight strong laps. On lap 8 however, Mini, with the aid of DRS, was able to pass Nikita on the main straight. Nikita was didn’t give up and remained glued at the rear of Mini’s car. Further back, unfortunately, Alejandro had to pit with a damaged front wing, but after changing the part was able to rejoin the race. At the front, lap after lap, Mini and Nikita were showing a strong pace and were building a gap from the rest of the field. They were 7 seconds clear of the rest of the field when a safety car had to be deployed on lap 14, neutralizing the race. With 4 laps to go, the race restarted. Nikita kept his second place well, but Bortoleto had closed the gap under Safety Car and was now looking for a way to pass Nikita. After a brief Virtual Safety Car phase, the final lap got underway and Bortoleto, the current championship leader, was able to overtake Nikita in the last corner to take 2^nd place. When the checkered flag waved Nikita crossed the finish line in a brilliant 3^rd place, taking an amazing first podium in this category, and moreover on a circuit, where he had never raced before. Taylor stayed out of the late drama and finished in 12^th position, while unfortunately Alejandro was involved in an incident on the penultimate lap of the race and retired his car in the box.

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FIA F3 Championship

Race Two (Feature Race, 45 Minutes)

Sunday, 23/07/23, 08.25, Weather: Sunny, 23°C

On Sunday morning the FIA F3 championship met for the last race of the weekend. The Feature Race got shortened from 24 to 19 laps following a recommendation from the official tyre supplier due to extreme level of wear experienced in the sprint race. At lights out, our drivers controlled the start well and fought to keep their positions. From 11^th place on the grid, Nikita knew it was going to be a big challenge as he was now fitting used tyres. On the other hand, Taylor immediately showed a great pace on new tyres and was able to quickly find the rhythm and to move up a few places. At the end of the opening laps, Nikita was in 13^th place followed by Taylor in 16^th while Alejandro was in 26^th position. Taylor quickly caught up with the group in front of him, where he also found his way past Nikita. Further back, Alejandro was doing his best to stay out of trouble and to recover some positions. Lap by lap, Nikita was struggling with tyre degradation, dropping slowly back to 24^th place in the end. He finished just ahead of Alejandro, who saw the checkered flag in 25^th position. Taylor was within a group of four who were battling tighly for positions throughout the remaining laps of the race. Tylor finally finished in 14^th place. Nikita managed to keep out of trouble and brought home 23^rd place in the end, while Alejandro finished in 26^th place.

We are looking forward to the next race meeting which will be held in one weeks time on the weekend of the 30^th July 2023 at Spa-Francorchamps (B).

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Championship standings after 14 out of 18 races:

1^st Gabriel Bortoleto, (BRA), 144 points; 2^nd Zak O’Sullivan (GB), 101 points; 3^rd Josep Maria Marti (E), 100 points; 4^th Paul Aron (EST), 94 points; 5^th Dino Beganovic (S), 94 points; 6^th Franco Colapinto (ARG), 93 points; 16^th Taylor Barnard (GB), 16 points, 19^th Nikita Bedrin (I), 9 points

Nikita Bedrin (ITA)

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Taylor Barnard (GB)

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Alejandro Garcia (MEX)

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2023 FIA F3 Championship

¹⁾ Cancelled after heavy flooding in the region

For more information:

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