PIASTRI RETAKES F3 TITLE LEAD

Oscar Piastri retakes F3 title lead – Photo: Suttons

Australian Oscar Piastri has snatched back the FIA Formula 3 Championship lead from Logan Sargeant after finishing fifth in the opening race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

By DAN McCARTHY

From eighth on the grid, Piastri chipped away, made up places and finished the race ahead of two of his championship rivals.

The championship leader coming into the weekend, Piastri’s Prema Racing teammate Logan Sargeant had a small engine issue and dropped several positions late in the race, finishing the 17-lap affair in eighth position.

The other three Australians in the race all finished just outside of the top 10 and unluckily missed out on the points.

At the end of the race it was polesitter Lirim Zendeli that took a commanding maiden race victory by 4s, from young Frenchman Theo Pourchaire and David Beckmann.

Alexander Smolyar finished the race in fourth holding Piastri at bay by just 0.6s at the finish line.

Piastri was caught out in qualifying by the red flag and the wet weather but had everything covered in the race.

The Aussie methodically made his way up the field taking Richard Verschoor, Liam Lawson and Sargeant to finish the race fifth.

Piastri did touch with Red Bull Racing Junior driver Lawson on lap 10 as both cars took to the escape road at Le Combes.

No damage was done but Piastri elected to redress the position, before re-overtaking the New Zealander a couple of laps later. Behind Piastri was his second Prema Racing teammate Frederik Vesti and Olli Caldwell.

Sargeant nursed his wounded Prema across the line in eighth ahead of Lawson and Verschoor.

The three other Australians were just outside the top 10, Jack Doohan finished in a season high 12th position in his HWA Racelab machine.

Tasmanian Alex Peroni started from 10th but dropped back in the race to finish the 17-lap event in 14th, but less than 1.5s away from the points.

Calan Williams his Jenzer Motorsport car finished the race in 16th making up a couple of positions from his grid slot.

It is unknown whether tomorrow’s inverted grid race will take place in wet or dry conditions, but this will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 from 5.40pm AEST.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.