FIA Formula 3

Colapinto opens his Formula 3 account in wet Silverstone sprint, Mansell takes first podium

Andrew Rickert

Jul 8, 2023 — 3 min read

Franco Colapinto has opened his account in the FIA Formula 3 championship with his first race victory of the season in the sprint race at Silverstone.

Franco Colapinto celebrates his first race victory of the 2023 FIA Formula 3 season at Silverstone. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

The Argentine driver held third and kept pace with the lead pack throughout the race as the rain became heavier throughout, before second place Taylor Barnard collided with leader Sebastian Montoya at the restart.

Colapinto inherited the lead and ran away to the chequered flag ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and Australian Christian Mansell, paying tribute to fellow MP Motorsport driver Dilano Van 'T Hoff, who died after a crash in the Formula Regional European series last weekend.

"Super good race, super happy with the points and win," said the MP Motorsport driver.

"It was really tricky with the rain out there on the slicks and trying to make the right decision with the strategy, but the team did an amazing job, I just had to drive the car."

"We were really good today in terms of pace and I’m just super happy with the points. This one is for Dilano and for all his family and friend and all of MP Motorsport. We’re going through a difficult couple of days, so this one is for him and everyone in out there in Argentina, thank you for the support.”

Franco Colapinto (centre), Gabriel Bortoleto, and Christian Mansell (AUS) on the podium for the FIA Formula 3 sprint race at Silverstone. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

Montoya led the field away from reverse-grid pole as Jonny Edgar was swamped from second on the grid, falling to eighth by the end of the first lap.

Every driver was on dry tyres as rain began to fall apart from Grégoire Saucy, the ART Grand Prix driver opting to take the gamble in the difficult conditions.

The rain fell harder and harder as Montoya held the lead, with a fierce battle between Campos Racing teammates Christian Mansell and Pepe Martí as they moved through the field.

The safety car was called as conditions worsened, Dino Beganovic leading around half of the grid into the pits to change onto soft tyres, returning in P11 for the restart.

Montoya managed his own at the restart but was collected from behind by Taylor Barnard, with Colapinto gliding into the lead after holding onto the lead pair before the safety car.

It was a battle between the slick and wet runners, with Colapinto holding on ahead of Bortoleto and Mansell, with the Australian holding off a late challenge from Caio Collet on the final lap to take his first podium in Formula 3.

Franco Colapinto takes the chequered flag in the Formula 3 sprint race at Silverstone. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

It was Paul Aron against Pepe Martí for the lead of the wet runners, with the Spaniard passing for tenth on the final lap and narrowly avoiding a final charge from Alejandro Garcia.

Saucy's early gamble was interrupted with the mid-race safety car, narrowly staying on the lead lap as conditions favoured slick tyres in the early stages, before moving up to 23rd in the heavy rain.

Bortoleto holds the lead of the standings on 120 points after his second place finish, with Martí remaining second on 76 points after his top ten result in the sprint race.

Fellow Australian Hugh Barter was sixth to take back-to-back top-ten finishes, with Tommy Smith in 28th after a spin early in the race.

The FIA Formula 3 field returns for the feature race slightly earlier at 5.30pm Sunday (AEST).

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2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship - Round 7 Britain Sprint Race Result