Having started from pole position, Jehan Daruvala (Carlin) was also able to celebrate the most after the 13th race of the season in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. The Indian won with a margin of 3.235 seconds from Spaniard Alex Palou (Hitech Bullfrog GP). Third place went to Ralf Aron (PREMA Theodore Racing), the Estonian also took over the lead in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings. Rookie driver Marcus Armstrong (PREMA Theodore Racing), who came to the 7.004 kilometres long Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as the points’ leader, retired from the race and is now second in the drivers’ standings.

At the start, Ferrari junior driver Marcus Armstrong took the lead from Alex Palou and Jehan Daruvala, a protégé of the Force India Formula 1 team. On the long Kemmel straight after the famous Eau Rouge and Raidillon section, Palou overtook the New-Zealander for the lead. Daruvala also overtook Armstrong, just before race control deployed the safety car following an accident between Nikita Troickii (Carlin) and Sacha Fenestraz (Carlin).

Just after the restart on lap three, Daruvala overtook Palou from the slipstream. Initially, the Hitech driver was able to keep up with the leader, but then had to let him pull away. From behind, however, he was not under pressure so that Palou eventually drove an undisputed second place behind winner Daruvala home.

The battle for third place was only decided on lap 13. Enaam Ahmed (Hitech Bullfrog GP) tried to attack Aron, but tangled with the Estonian’s Prema-Dallara and retired as a result. Daniel Ticktum (Motopark) inherited fourth place from Mick Schumacher (PREMA Theodore Racing), Robert Shvartzman (PREMA Theodore Racing), Jüri Vips (Motopark), Marino Sato (Motopark), Artem Petrov (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Fabio Scherer (Motopark).

Jehan Daruvala (Carlin): “After a rather difficult start of the season, I have now scored my second consecutive podium finish already. Moreover, my team Carlin celebrated the second win in a row, which shows tat we are now on the right way. Here, I didn’t make a good start, but I was able to overtake Alex right after the restart to take the lead. Soon after that, I also managed to pull clear. I reckon that five or six consistently fast laps halfway through the race were particularly helpful in building up an advantage. Then, I tried to save my tyres and to keep my gap consistent.”

Alex Palou (Hitech Bullfrog GP): “I made a good start from third place on the grid. On the opening lap, I was even in the lead, but after the restart, I had no real chance against Jehan. I followed him for another two laps, but then I was no longer able to keep up with him. We had problems with grip on the rear wheel that we will hopefully be able to solve in time for this afternoon’s second race.”

Ralf Aron (PREMA Theodore Racing): “My race was a bit hectic. I believe that I was a bit too cautious in the early stages. After the restart, I was then able to move back up into third place. Then, I tried to close up to Jehan and Alex, but I was unable to do so without a slipstream. Instead, Enaam Ahmed was able to close up to me and we tangled in the battle. I am sure that Enaam didn’t do it on purpose, but I reckon that I got a slow puncture as a result. Therefore, I am all the more happy that I have made it to the finish in third place.”