Luke Browning takes mature maiden victory in F3 Bahrain feature race ahead of Christian Mansell
Luke Browning took his maiden FIA Formula 3 win in the feature race in Bahrain after holding off Australian Christian Mansell.
Luke Browning celebrates after winning his maiden Formula 3 victory in Bahrain. (Pauline Ballet/Formula Motorsport Limited/Getty Images)
The 22-year-old Williams junior took the lead from polesitter Dino Beganovic off the start and didn't look back, despite being chased down by the ART Grand Prix car of Mansell.
"I'm ecstatic," Browning told RACEWEEK from the pit lane.
"The team did a great job, and all the hard work is paying off."
"It's only the first round but finishing the first feature race in P1 is a special feeling and now I just can't wait for Melbourne."
Luke Browning is congratulated by Williams F1 team principal James Vowles after winning in Bahrain. (Joe Portlock/Formula Motorsport Limited/Getty Images)
With tyre wear a concern after the sprint race on Friday, drivers and teams were even more conscious of degradation in Saturday's longer feature race.
"I don't think I pushed a single lap, to be honest," said Browning.
"It was just managing the gap to Christian, I could've pushed more.”
“Over the last ten laps I probably could've gone up to a second quicker, and then the last two or three laps, we were like "right, now the gap stays the same.""
"I just managed him in my mirror, and we did a good job."
"A step forward from yesterday in [degradation] and race management, for myself, was much better."
Luke Browning on track during the feature race in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
The win is a big step forward for Browning, who spoke at length before the season about a more mature approach to his race strategy.
"That's the one thing I'd say," he acknowledged after the race.
"It's just completely different mindset, to be truthful."
"I would have taken second place, you know? It's that championship mindset, rather than risk at all.
"I was just chilling, and letting it come to us, and it's coming."
Luke Browning celebrates with team director Olive Oakes in Bahrain. (Joe Portlock/Formula Motorsport Limited/Getty Images)
While Browning leaves Bahrain confidently in the lead of the Formula 3 championship standings, it was a much more lively race behind him.
Polesitter Dino Beganovic dropped to the rear of the pack from the start, leaving the paddock completely despondent after the race as he was comforted by Juan Pablo Montoya.
The slow start for the PREMA driver impeded Gabriele Minì from the second row of the grid, with Sami Meguetounif and Tim Tramnitz surging past into second and third.
The slow start for Minì also allowed Christian Mansell and Santiago Ramos through to fourth and fifth, with the order truly shuffled by turn one.
Mansell was on a charge, passing Tramnitz in turn eight before passing Meguetounif in the same corner two laps later for second place.
The Australian then set about chasing down the leader, but Browning held an unassailable lead, just out of DRS range and calmly managing the gap to his ART rival.
Meguetounif was close to Mansell at stages but ran wide, with Tramnitz making the pass for the final podium position on lap 19.
Christian Mansell, Luke Browning, and Tim Tramnitz on the podium. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Browning leaves Bahrain in the lead of the standings ahead of Tramnitz and Mansell, with Trident in the lead of the team's championship after all three drivers finished in the points on Saturday.
The FIA Formula 3 field now takes two weeks off before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix from 22-24 March.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 3 season on Kayo Sports.
