Race victory and championship leadership for Trident Motorsport
The Feature Race at the Hungaroring, which wrapped up the seventh round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship season, gave Trident Motorsport its second victory of the season in the series. On the extremely technical track located just outside Budapest, Freddie Slater prevailed after a hard-fought race to the finish.
The seventeen-year-old Englishman, after securing three second- and three third-place finishes, secured his first win in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, a result that allowed him to leapfrog into the lead of the overall standings for drivers in the third series. Noah Strømsted also put in a positive comeback, while Matteo De Palo capped a tough race by posting the fastest lap of the race.
After clinching his third consecutive pole position in qualifying, Freddie Slater held onto second place when the lights went out. During the opening lap, the Audi Junior Driver came into contact with a rival, suffering a broken front wing strip, but this did not jeopardize his race. In the very early stages of the Feature Race, the British driver took the lead, which he maintained until the end despite repeated attempts by his pursuers.
In the finale, Slater effectively managed tire degradation, under the guidance of the team's technical staff, securing his first victory in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. This victory carries enormous weight, as it also allows him to ascend to the top of the overall FIA Formula 3 Championship Drivers' standings, eight points ahead of his nearest rival.
Noah Strømsted, on the other hand, led the race. Starting from twenty-third on the grid, the eighteen-year-old Dane made the most of the various neutralizations to make up ground, gradually climbing to thirteenth place and gaining a total of ten positions.
Matteo De Palo's race proved more challenging. The eighteen-year-old Roman, forced to start from twenty-ninth on the grid following a difficult qualifying session, made up several positions throughout the race, crossing the finish line in twenty-first place. The Hungarian weekend's conclusion brought also the satisfaction of the fastest lap in the Feature Race, which he achieved in the closing stages, confirming his excellent pace when he had a clear track.
With the Hungarian race concluded, the FIAFormula 3 Championship now enters its summer break. The season will resume on the weekend of September 6th at the Monza circuit, where Trident Motorsport will present itself with Freddie Slater leading the Drivers' standings.
Giacomo Ricci: “It was an extremely positive Feature Race. We leave Hungary strong with a win and the lead in the Drivers' standings, knowing that we will now be in the crosshairs of the pursuers and that we will not be allowed the slightest mistake. Freddie Slater ran a high-level race, managing to keep every variable under control, thanks also to the technical guidance of the team. The hard part comes now, but facing the final part of the season with a driver at the top of the category is certainly positive. Noah Strømsted staged a great comeback, making up several positions from the back of the field. Matteo De Palo had a more difficult race, but he showed excellent pace, taking the fastest lap, an encouraging sign ahead of the season finale. Now we will use the break to best prepare for the final two rounds of the championship.”