Freshly-crowned FIA Formula 3 European Champion Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam) made it clear that he has lost nothing of his motivation after sealing the title. At the 4.574 kilometres long Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, the development driver of the Williams Formula 1 team secured his twelfth win of the season in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam) and Nick Cassidy (Prema Powerteam) added to the lock-out of the podium for the Prema Powerteam by finishing second and third. Rookie driver Ralf Aron (Prema Powerteam) crossed the finish line in fourth place and thus kept his chances in the battle for the rookie title in the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship alive. Swede Joel Eriksson (Motopark) maintained his lead in the rookie standings, he finished sixth in the 28th race of the season. 

The opening stage of the race was a thrilling affair. On the opening lap already, leader Lance Stroll, Maximilian Günther and Nick Cassidy were racing three abreast in the run to the hairpin, with the German coming out in the lead. In the following track section, the Mercedes Arena, Stroll countered. Both drivers tangled and the Canadian claimed back first place. Günther had to take a wide line, allowing Cassidy to get through as well as the German dropped back to third. On lap eight, Günther overtook Cassidy again. In the lead, Lance Stroll already had a margin of four seconds at that time. The order at the front of the field remained unchanged until the end. With Ralf Aron finishing in fourth place, Prema Powerteam drivers even locked out the first four positions.

Sérgio Sette Câmara (Motopark) finished fifth ahead of sixth-placed Swede Joel Eriksson. Combined with the fourth place of his rival rookie Aron, that wasn’t yet enough for the Motopark driver to claim an early rookie title in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. George Russell (HitechGP), Nikita Mazepin (HitechGP), Formula 3 returnee Alexander Sims (HitechGP) and Anthoine Hubert (Van Amersfoort Racing) rounded out the top ten in the race classification. The Frenchman had crossed the finish line in seventh, but because he hadn’t been correctly lined up in his starting grid box, he was given a five seconds’ post-race time penalty.

Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam): “The race was fun, especially the opening lap was cool. At the start, I managed to keep my first place, but then had to defend it in the run up to the hairpin, because I had locked up my right front wheel in the previous corner. As I was on the inside in the hairpin and therefore had to brake a little bit earlier, Maxi was able to take first place. In the Mercedes Arena, he then left the door open and I made the move. He defended and we tangled. Such situations simply happen in motorsport, as far as I am concerned. As a team, we locked out the first four places in this race, which is great.”

Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam): “It was a good race and I am happy with my podium finish. On lap two, Lance made a mistake and I attacked him in the hairpin after that. I tried to brake as late as possible and thus took the lead. A little bit later, Lance attacked me, but I have to admit that I hadn’t expected this attack. I had to open up to avoid a collision. We still tangled and I dropped back to third. A few laps later, I managed to overtake Nick Cassidy again and then bring second place home. I still haven’t secured second place in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings, but I am optimistic that I will be able to take it.”

Nick Cassidy (Prema Powerteam): “At the start, I was third. On the opening lap, I tried not to take too many risks and was second after the first lap. Eventually, I was then in third place. The fact that Prema drivers locked out the first four places in this race is a great performance and reflects how strong the team is.”