Celebrations didn’t end for Enaam Ahmed (Hitech Bullfrog GP) in Budapest. Having already won the fifth race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at the 4.381 kilometres long Hungaroring in the morning, he went on to win the sixth race of the year in the afternoon. Behind the rookie, who thus extended his lead in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings, Daniel Ticktum (Motopark) and Mick Schumacher (PREMA Theodore Racing) finished second and third respectively. For Schumacher, it was the first podium finish of the season.

The race started with a three-way fight up front that, next to pole-sitter Enaam Ahmed, also involved Daniel Ticktum and Marcus Armstrong (PREMA Theodore Racing). Initially, Ticktum took the lead, but ran too wide at the exit of the first corner and tangled with Armstrong. Ahmed benefited and took the lead while Armstrong had to retire in the pits with suspension damage. Ticktum slotted into second place. Mick Schumacher came back from the opening lap in third place, having made up his way from ninth on the grid.

On lap two, Ticktum came within 0.4 seconds from race leader Ahmed, but then the British driver of the Hitech Bullfrog GP team continuously extended his lead until the end of the race. Meanwhile, Ralf Aron (PREMA Theodore Racing) worked his way past Fabio Scherer (Motopark) with a brave overtaking move under braking to claim seventh place. In this position, he crossed the finish line after 21 laps of racing. Ahead of him, Ahmed, Ticktum, Schumacher, Jüri Vips (Motopark), Guanyu Zhou (PREMA Theodore Racing) and Sacha Fenestraz (Carlin) finished in first to sixth, behind him, Jonathan Aberdein (Motopark), Nikita Troitckii (Carlin) and Scherer rounded out the top ten. Russian driver Troitckii thus scored his first FIA Formula 3 European Championship points.

After the weekend at the Hungaroring, the Norisring in Nuremberg is the next venue on the FIA Formula 3 European Championship calendar. Season races 7, 8 and 9 are scheduled from 22-24 June.

Enaam Ahmed (Hitech Bullfrog GP): “I had a poor start and Daniel overtook me. Then he had a problem in the first corner and I was able to take the lead. The fact that I am now leading the championship standings is nice, but doesn’t say that much. I know that in such a hard-fought series like the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, having a season with consistently good performances is almost impossible. The level is simply too high for that.”

Daniel Ticktum (Motopark): “Too bad that I just finished second after colliding with Marcus Armstrong, and not for the first time this season. My weekend in Hungary had highs and lows. After victory in the first race, I retired from race two with a brake issue. Now, I scored further valuable points with my second place.”

Mick Schumacher (PREMA Theodore Racing): “My start was medium, but right after that, I was able to make up some positions. Thus, I managed to move up into a podium position. Then, I tried to save my tyres and to avoid any mistakes. Enaam and Daniel ahead of me were really fast and I am also very happy with my third place.”