Franco Colapinto takes record victory in Monza Formula 3 sprint race
Franco Colapinto equalled the all-time record with his fourth win in FIA Formula 3 after taking victory in the sprint race at Monza.
Mari Boya, Franco Colapinto, and Gabriel Bortoleto celebrate their podium in Monza. (Joe Portlock / Formula Motorsport Limited / Getty Images)
The Argentinian started on reverse-grid pole after a slew of drivers were disqualified from qualifying, but lost the lead to teammate Mari Boya off the line.
The pair exchanged the lead multiple times as an action-packed race unfolded behind them, with Colapinto finally taking the lead and stretching his legs with five laps to go.
“We won the sprint race, super happy after yesterday having a pretty difficult qualifying,” said Colapinto.
“Today to win the race, it’s really nice. It’s really nice for the team, also to have Mari on the podium. It’s really good points for the teams’ championship and also for the drivers’, so I’m just really happy with the pace of the car.”
“We were really strong at the front, and we could stay there the whole race with the two cars, so I’m super happy and proud of the team.”
“I’m super excited for tomorrow, but it’s also nice to see the team happy and give them a bit of a nice result to celebrate tonight.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, and Mari Boya on the podium in Monza. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
The lead drivers were lucky to escape the carnage behind them at turn one, with Paul Aron barrelling into the field after suffering a puncture in contact with Caio Collet.
Aron struggled to brake and sped down the inside into the path of Jonny Edgar and Pepe Martí, with the safety car neutralising the field by the end of the opening lap.
Boya held the lead at the restart while Nikola Tsolov struggled with damage after contact with teammate Grégoire Saucy, and was quickly dispatched by Red Bull junior Zak O’Sullivan, Australian Christian Mansell, and champion-elect Gabriel Bortoleto.
Colapinto returned to the lead on lap ten, while Saucy and O’Sullivan made contact while battling for the final podium position, with a puncture for Saucy who fell down the order.
Franco Colapinto leads teammate Mari Boya at Monza. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
It was a DRS battle for the lead, with Spaniard Boya back in front on lap 12 before his teammate returned the favour the following lap.
Colapinto took the chance to build a gap to Boya, who ceded second place to Bortoleto on the final lap.
With the Brazilian securing the title in qualifying, the battle is on for vice-champion, with Colapinto up to second on 110 points, ahead of Paul Aron on 106 points, Pepe Martí on 105 points, and Zak O’Sullivan on 101 points ahead of the final feature race of the season on Sunday.
In the teams’ standings, PREMA Racing holds the lead by just four points over Trident after failing to score any points in the sprint race, with the title to come down to the wire in Sunday’s finale.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 3 season on Kayo Sports.
2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship - Round 10 Monza Sprint Race
- Franco Colapinto
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Mari Boya
- Taylor Barnard
- Luke Browning
- Leonardo Fornaroli
- Oliver Goethe
- Gabriele Mini
- Christian Mansell (AUS)
- Nikola Tsolov
- Rafael Villagomez
- Zak O’Sullivan
- Sebastian Montoya
- Dino Beganovic
- Joshua Dufek
- Nikita Bedrin
- Sophia Floersch
- Alejandro Garcia
- Francesco Simonazzi
- Caio Collet
- Kaylen Frederick
- Ido Cohen
- Gregoire Saucy
- Roberto Faria - DNF
- Oliver Gray - DNF
- Tommy Smith (AUS) - DNF
- Woohyun Shin - DNF
- Jonny Edgar - DNF
- Paul Aron - DNF
- Pepe Marti - DNF
