Jake Hughes takes resounding FIA Formula 3 win in Barcelona
Jake Hughes has won Race 1 of the FIA Formula 3 weekend in Barcelona, ahead of kiwi Liam Lawson and championship leader Logan Sargeant.
Jake Hughes celebrates after winning Race 1 of the FIA Formula 3 weekend in Barcelona. (Image: Supplied/Formula Motorsport Limited)
American championship leader Logan Sargeant qualified on pole for Saturday’s race, and held his lead at the start, as rival Oscar Piastri, one point behind in the standings, struggled to capitalise on his start from fourth position.
Clement Novalak forced Piastri wide on the opening lap, and the Australian was down to fifth position with his hopes of a recovery drive quickly fading.
Bent Viscaal careened off the track into the newly-extended gravel on Lap 1, temporarily neutralising the race, and after the restart, Piastri set about reclaiming his starting position, catching out Novalak on the back straight.
Jake Hughes was chasing down Logan Sargeant for the lead of the race, and with the advantage of DRS, he sailed past the young Floridian on Lap 7.
Logan Sargeant leads the FIA Formula 3 field during Race 1 in Barcelona. (Image: Supplied/Formula Motorsport Limited)
Prema driver Frederik Vesti retired from the race on Lap 9, bringing out the Safety Car once again, and sparking another moment of drama for Piastri.
At the restart, the Australian ran wide on the hard yellow curb and slowed at the edge of the track, with both Novalak and David Beckmann passing him before the restart.
Given that the passes had occurred before the green flag, there was a chance Piastri would win the positions back on appeal—but it was not to be, with Race Control ruling that no investigation was necessary.
Piastri said "I ended up sixth in the race, not really what I was looking for.”
“It was all going okay until the safety-car restart when I picked up some understeer and got stuck on the sausage kerb. That was pretty much game over for the rest of the race. We will try to bounce back tomorrow and try to salvage some points back for the weekend."
Jake Hughes had built a significant lead at the head of the race, but the battle was on for the second step on the podium, with Liam Lawson chasing down Sargeant.
Lawson showed his hand with attempts down the inside of Turn 1 on Lap 18 and 19, and with Sargeant expecting the same on Lap 20, the kiwi moved to the outside and outsmarted his opponent to steal the silverware.
On the technical circuit, the positions went unchanged for the final three laps, with Hughes sailing to his maiden podium for the year with a healthy gap ahead of Lawson and Sargeant.
Liam Lawson, Jake Hughes, and Logan Sargeant on the FIA Formula 3 podium in Barcelona. (Image: Supplied/Formula Motorsport Limited)
Hughes said “I am really, really happy.”
“A massive congrats to the team. We seem to have taken a step since the second Silverstone round and the car was feeling really good. I had good pace at the beginning and was able to get past Logan and then it was about managing after that.”
“The safety car made it a bit difficult with tyre temp, but it seemed quite straightforward for us, so hopefully we can have more fun in Race 2 tomorrow.”
Aussie Alex Peroni finished eighth, with Jack Doohan in P14 and Calan Williams in P25.
