Isack Hadjar has taken the first win of the season for Hitech after Oliver Bearman was penalised for exceeding track limits.
For the partially reversed-grid sprint race it was Zak O’Sullivan on pole, with Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman joining him on the front row for the pair’s first ever FIA F3 races. Kush Maini started from the pit lane, after being relegated by missing the FIA weighbridge when called into it during qualifying yesterday.O’Sullivan got away with the lead, while fifth-starting Alexander Smolyar was overtaken by rookie Isack Hadjar. Roman Stanek reported on the first lap that he had a puncture. Both he and Franco Colapinto had to pit, sending them to the back of the field despite locking out the front row of the feature race tomorrow between them.
On lap 5, Bearman was able to pass O’Sullivan and take the lead of the race. A lap later, Victor Martins and Gregoire Saucy were forced to go to the ART pits, Martins immediately out of the race and Saucy’s elimination following only moment later
By lap 13, pit lane starter Maini had made up 14 positions to be 16th but was unable to progress much further, finishing the race 15th.
On lap 16 both Hadjar and Smolyar were able to pass O’Sullivan for the podium places behind Bearman as O’Sullivan’s tyres seemed to give out, leaving him vulnerable to Arthur Leclerc.
Bearman was shown the black-and-white flag for track limits on the final lap, while in the lead of the race by more than three seconds from Hadjar. He crossed the line ahead but was issued a 5-second time penalty after the chequered flag, giving Hadjar the rookie win while Bearman retained second, Smolyar taking the final podium place.
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Formula 3 Bahrain race one results
| Position | Car | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Isack Hadjar | Hitech |
| 2 | 6 | Oliver Bearman | Prema |
| 3 | 11 | Alexander Smolyar | MP |
| 4 | 3 | Zane Maloney | Trident |
| 5 | 4 | Arthur Leclerc | Prema |
| 6 | 26 | Zak O’Sullivan | Carlin |
| 7 | 10 | Caio Collet | MP |
| 8 | 17 | Kaylen Frederick | Hitech |
| 9 | 9 | Juan Manuel Correa | ART |
| 10 | 20 | David Vidales | Campos |
| 11 | 25 | William Alatalo | Jenzer |
| 12 | 31 | Reece Ushijima | HWA |
| 13 | 1 | Jonny Edgar | Trident |
| 14 | 23 | Ido Cohen | Jenzer |
| 15 | 12 | Kush Maini | MP |
| 16 | 19 | Nazim Azman | Hitech |
| 17 | 30 | Rafael Villagomez | HWA |
| 18 | 15 | Ayrton Simmons | Charouz |
| 19 | 16 | Francesco Pizzi | Charouz |
| 20 | 28 | Enzo Trulli | Carlin |
| 21 | 21 | Hunter Yeany | Campos |
| 22 | 27 | Brad Benavides | Carlin |
| 23 | 14 | Laszlo Toth | Charouz |
| 24 | 2 | Roman Stanek | Trident |
| 25 | 29 | Franco Colapinto | HWA |
| 26 | 24 | Niko Kari | Jenzer |
| 27 | 5 | Jak Crawford | Prema |
| 28 | 22 | Pepe Marti | Campos |
| 29 | 8 | Gregoire Saucy | ART |
| 30 | 7 | Victor Martins | ART |
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Formula 3
- Prema announce move into IndyCar with new two-car team in 2025
- Beganovic passes Fornaroli and Mini for Australia feature race victory
- Red Bull junior driver’s track limits penalty cancelled by stewards
- Stenshorne holds off Lindblad for first F3 win in sprint race
- Fornaroli pips Mini in late scramble for pole after Meguetounif crash
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
19th March 2022, 12:24
I was very impressed by Arthur Leclerc in this race. He never seemed to get held up. He’d cruise up to the back of the car ahead and make a decisive move to overtake. No half-hearted attempts as we saw from some other drivers.
Staffan
19th March 2022, 13:48
Super frustrated with the live feed not showing Oliver Bearman going over the track limits after the penalty was given.
Note: Not that i dont belive it, just that i would like to see it in action why and in what corner he got the penalty.