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Norisring F3: Norris charges from fifth to first in Race 2

McLaren F1 protege Lando Norris took a stunning win in the second race of the Formula 3 European Championship round at the Norisring.

Lando Norris, Carlin Dallara F317 - Volkswagen

Lando Norris, Carlin Dallara F317 - Volkswagen

Mario Bartkowiak

Lando Norris, Carlin Dallara F317 - Volkswagen
Lando Norris, Carlin Dallara F317 - Volkswagen, Maximilian Günther, Prema Powerteam Dallara F317 - Mercedes-Benz
Jake Hughes, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 - Mercedes-Benz
Maximilian Günther, Prema Powerteam Dallara F317 - Mercedes-Benz
Jake Hughes, Hitech Grand Prix, Dallara F317 - Mercedes-Benz

Poleman Ralf Aron led 36 of the 42 laps, but the Estonian’s challenge crumbled in the final moments as he tumbled to fifth.

Norris started his Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen from fourth on the grid, and lost no positions at the start, but his bid to prise third place away from championship leader Maximilian Gunther failed and Norris was demoted to fifth by Pedro Piquet.

But McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Norris squeezed down the inside of Piquet’s Van Amersfoort Racing car at the Dutzendteich hairpin, the last corner on the circuit, on the third tour, then hunted down Gunther.

The race stabilised from that point on, with Aron holding a one-second advantage over Hitech GP teammate Jake Hughes, who had Gunther, Norris and Jehan Daruvala – who had passed Piquet – close behind.

But on the 19th lap, Gunther braked too deep – he reported mid-race lock-up problems – into Dutzdendteich, and Norris was able to slip up the inside and complete the move to take third into Turn 1.

It took only a couple of laps for Norris to zap Hughes into the Turn 1 hairpin, and now he had a 1.6s gap to make up to Aron.

At first the interval came down in increments, but with 13 laps remaining Norris was right with Aron.

There was a flurry of passing bids before Norris took a breather, and then came another attack with six laps remaining.

Norris tried the outside line at Turn 1, then attempted an audacious bid at the chicane, which caused Aron to make an awkward exit, allowing Norris alongside on the run to Dutzendteich.

Now Norris was in front, but next time around Aron, his front wing now loose, tried a bid to immediately reclaim the lead, only to lock up at Dutzendteich, allowing Hughes into second.

One lap later, Gunther drew his Prema Powerteam car alongside Aron on the run to Turn 1, and Aron’s defence of the inside line caused him to sail wide of the apex, also allowing Carlin man Daruvala past.

Norris won by 1.1s from Hughes after a breathless encounter.

“It’s good to be back on the top step after not such an enjoyable run of races,” said Norris.

“It’s not the easiest track to overtake on, especially if someone is defending well. But I had some good battles, particularly with Ralf.”

Piquet slipped back from the leading quintet to hold off VAR teammate Harrison Newey for sixth, with Prema’s Guan Yu Zhou also close at hand.

Joel Eriksson and Callum Ilott didn’t make their anticipated climbs up the order, but they had a terrific scrap, Ilott moving ahead with four laps remaining to claim ninth.

Race results

Pos. Driver Team Time/Gap
1 Lando Norris Carlin 34'15.834
2 Jake Hughes Hitech GP 1.134
3 Maximilian Gunther Prema Powerteam 2.176
4 Jehan Daruvala Carlin 3.378
5 Ralf Aron Hitech GP 4.167
6 Pedro Piquet Van Amersfoort Racing 4.554
7 Harrison Newey Van Amersfoort Racing 5.074
8 Guan Yu Zhou Prema Powerteam 5.624
9 Callum Ilott Prema Powerteam 6.504
10 Joel Eriksson Motopark 7.848
11 David Beckmann Motopark 12.503
12 Mick Schumacher Prema Powerteam 12.554
13 Joey Mawson Van Amersfoort Racing 14.198
14 Tadasuke Makino Hitech GP 14.923
15 Ferdinand Habsburg Carlin 18.351
16 Marino Sato Motopark 19.733
17 Keyvan Andres Soori Motopark 22.577
18 Nikita Mazepin Hitech GP 1 Lap

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