Hungaroring F3: Gunther takes points lead with straightforward win
Prema's Maximilian Gunther took the European F3 championship lead by becoming the first repeat winner of the 2016 campaign in Race 2 at the Hungaroring.
Photo by: FIA F3 / Suer
With the previous points leader - teammate Nick Cassidy - spinning at the start and failing to score, the German moved to the top with 70 points to his name.
After his start from pole in Race 1 went poorly, Gunther nailed the getaway this time around, heading the field comfortably into Turn 1 as second-placed Ralf Aron came under attack from George Russell.
Russell, however, could not clear the Estonian and soon began to struggle for pace massively - just as he had in Race 1 - allowing the Prema duo to check out at the front.
Despite his struggles, Russell managed a valiant effort to defend his third place for half the race, but he eventually surrendered to Motopark's Guan Yu Zhou.
Having cleared the Briton, Ferrari junior Zhou set out after the Prema drivers, but couldn't do anything about Aron, the Estonian finishing three and a half seconds behind Gunther.
Russell continued to lose time after having been passed by Zhou but managed to hang on to fourth over Red Bull protege Sergio Sette Camara, who emerged victorious in a lengthy scrap with Alessio Lorandi.
Mikkel Jensen was a distant seventh behind Lorandi, holding off Lance Stroll, Callum Ilott and Ben Barnicoat.
Race results
Pos. | Driver | Team | Gap |
1 | Maximilian Gunther | Prema Powerteam | |
2 | Ralf Aron | Prema Powerteam | 3.676 |
3 | Guan Yu Zhou | Motopark | 4.816 |
4 | George Russell | HitechGP | 10.451 |
5 | Sergio Sette Camara | Motopark | 11.306 |
6 | Alessio Lorandi | Carlin | 15.175 |
7 | Mikkel Jensen | kfzteile24 Mucke Motorsport | 28.495 |
8 | Lance Stroll | Prema Powerteam | 29.292 |
9 | Callum Ilott | Van Amersfoort Racing | 30.002 |
10 | Ben Barnicoat | HitechGP | 30.642 |
11 | Ryan Tveter | Carlin | 31.111 |
12 | Harrison Newey | Van Amersfoort Racing | 31.675 |
13 | Anthoine Hubert | Van Amersfoort Racing | 34.435 |
14 | Pedro Piquet | Van Amersfoort Racing | 35.72 |
15 | Arjun Maini | ThreeBond with T-Sport | 59.497 |
16 | Nick Cassidy | Prema Powerteam | 1:10.143 |
Ret | Nikita Mazepin | HitechGP | |
Ret | Joel Eriksson | Motopark | |
Ret | Niko Kari | Motopark | |
Ret | Zhi Cong Li | Carlin |
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