Gabriel Bortoleto wins F3 feature race in Bahrain as Mini falls foul of start grid rules

Gabriel Bortoleto won the FIA Formula 3 feature race on Sunday in Bahrain as rival Gabriele Minì was penalised for starting outside of his grid position.

Gabriel Bortoleto celebrates after winning the FIA Formula 3 feature race in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited)

Bortoleto started alongside polesitter Minì on the front row of the grid, pulling into the lead as the Italian was bogged down off the line.

Minì was down to third behind Grégoire Saucy, clawing his way back into contention for the race lead with a move on lap four.

At the front, Bortoleto was out of DRS range and threatening to run away with the race when Tommy Smith and Mari Boya came together at the hairpin, bringing out the safety car.

With the field neutralised behind the safety car, Minì was told of his five-second penalty for starting outside of his grid box.

He set about righting the penalty at the restart, despatching Bortoleto and beginning to pull into the required five-second lead.

It was to end in heartbreak for the Hitech Pulse-Eight driver when Tommy Smith locked up into turn one and made contact with Roberto Faria, bringing out the safety car once again.

The race finished behind the safety car, maximising the impact of Minì's time penalty as the field compressed.

He finished eighth, with Bortoleto taking victory ahead of Oliver Goethe and Dino Beganovic.

“Very, very happy to win my first feature race in Formula 3," said Bortoleto.

"It’s an amazing start to the season, I hope we can keep up like this and thanks to everyone supporting us this weekend."

"Thanks to Trident and to everyone from Brazil as well."

"I’m very happy, we keep going like this!”

Gabriel Bortoleto (second from left) with Oliver Goethe and Dino Beganovic. (Formula Motorsport Limited)

Bortoleto leaves Bahrain with the lead of the drivers' standings on 26 points, ahead of Goethe on 23 points and Dino Beganovic in third on 22 points after two top four finishes.

It was zero points for Aussies Hugh Barter and Christian Mansell, with Barter suffering a puncture in the opening laps of the feature race and pitting for repairs, and Mansell finishing P13 in both races of the opening weekend.

The 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship returns 30 March - 2 April in Melbourne.

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