Yuki Tsunoda takes first FIA F3 win ahead of Liam Lawson

Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda has taken victory in the FIA F3 Sprint Race at Monza, his and his team’s first ever win the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

Fabio Scherer started on pole but it was Jake Hughes who charged off the line and had taken the lead by the exit of Turn 1. Meanwhile, Tsunoda has started sixth and was up to third by the first turn.

Tsunoda caught up to Hughes and the pair battled for multiple laps, both going wide at Turn 4 and then glancing each other in Turn 5.

Behind them, Liam Lawson slipstreamed past Scherer for third. Hughes and Tsunoda were 3 seconds down the road, and the Japanese driver used DRS to pass the Briton for the lead.

The ongoing dual between the leaders allowed Kiwi Lawson to catch them, with Lawson also pushing past Hughes with the assistance of DRS down the main straight.

Tsunoda was unchallenged to the chequered flag, followed by Lawson who made it a one-two finish for Red Bull Junior Drivers. Hughes finished third, with championship leader Robert Shwartzman in eighth, the final points-paying position.

Kiwi Marcus Armstrong finished P14.

Shwartzman leads on 180 points, 33 points ahead of Jehan Daruvala on 147 points. Jüri Vips is third on 122, just three points ahead of Armstrong on 119. Both first and third position in the championship will be up for grabs when the inaugural season concludes on the Formula One support card at Sochi.