Photo: f3euroseries

Fourth season victory for Raffaele Marciello

Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam) has won the seventh season round of the Formula 3 Euro Series at the 4.326 kilometres long Red Bull Ring in the Austrian province of Styria. The Italian crossed the finish line with a margin of a little bit less than one second over the best-placed rookie driver, Pascal Wehrlein (Mücke Motorsport). Guest driver Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin) finished third. With his fourth Euro Series’ season victory, Raffaele Marciello took over the lead in the drivers’ standings while he also extended his margin as the points’ leader in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship.

Already in the early stages of the race, Raffaele Marciello overtook erstwhile leader William Buller (Carlin) and drove an undisputed victory home. His fourth victory of the season in the Formula 3 Euro Series is also his fifth success in this year’s FIA European Formula 3 Championship. Buller and Daniel Juncadella (Prema Powerteam) were running second and third respectively before they were both called into the pits for a drive-through penalty for speeding in yellow flag conditions, just like four other drivers. This allowed Pascal Wehrlein to move up into second place. With four laps to go, his rival Carlos Sainz (Carlin) spun into the Armco barriers and retired. Jaafar took over third place.

Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam): “The race was very good. My car was perfect and driving fast with it wasn’t difficult. I am really happy to have won once again at a track that I didn’t know before.”

Pascal Wehrlein (Mücke Motorsport): “A podium finish was my goal and I have achieved that. My car was significantly better than at Brands Hatch a fortnight ago. At the re-start after the safety-car phase due to Sainz’s accident, I concentrated on defending my second place, which I managed to do. I didn’t have a real chance to attack Raffaele in front of me.”

Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin): “I benefited from the facts that Daniel Juncadella and William Buller were both given a drive-through penalty and that Carlos Sainz had an accident. After my victory in the short race at Brands Hatch, I am now happy with this podium finish in one of the two long races.”