The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend delivered a spectacle of raw talent and strategic mastery in Formula 3, culminating in a dramatic third race at the Hungaroring circuit. Dennis Hauger, the formidable championship leader from Prema Racing, emerged victorious from a rain-soaked encounter that began and ended behind the omnipresent Safety Car. His triumph came after an intense battle with teammate Arthur Leclerc, who showcased his own prowess by securing pole position earlier in the weekend but ultimately ceded the lead to Hauger in a gripping on-track duel.
The stage for this high-octane drama was set by the unpredictable Budapest weather. Heavy overnight rain had transformed the track into a treacherous, greasy surface. As race time approached, the skies unleashed another torrential downpour, ensuring a challenging start for all competitors. The cars, fitted with full wet tyres, were compelled to begin the race under the guidance of the Safety Car, led by the experienced Bernd Maylander. This initial period allowed drivers to gauge the perilous conditions, navigating pools of standing water and minimal visibility.
Teams were grappling with uncertainty regarding further rainfall. The Campos pit wall, for instance, issued a stern warning to Lorenzo Colombo, indicating another shower was imminent within five minutes, adding an extra layer of urgency to their strategic calculations. Despite the lingering threat of more rain, after two cautious laps, race control made the pivotal decision to bring the Safety Car in. This signaled a rolling start, with Arthur Leclerc, having earned pole position, leading the charge as the lights went out, initiating the true racing action.
Leclerc, demonstrating remarkable control in the challenging conditions, initially held his advantage. Hauger, determined and tactical, positioned himself strategically in Leclerc’s spray, searching for any fractional grip advantage. Immediately behind the Prema duo, a high-stakes battle ignited among the three Trident cars for third place. With no discernible dry line to exploit, the drivers wrestled their machines through the corners, each maneuver fraught with risk as they vied for crucial championship points on the slippery asphalt. The early laps were a testament to the skill and bravery of these young racers.
However, the frantic pace was soon interrupted. On just the third lap, a significant incident unfolded at Turn 9, involving Victor Martins and Oliver Rasmussen. The two drivers made contact, and Martins’ car tragically spun into the wall, bringing the racing to an abrupt halt. The Safety Car was deployed for a second time, neutralizing the field. Fortunately, Martins managed to extricate his damaged car and return to the pits for a replacement front wing, a testament to the resilience of modern F3 machinery. Coincidentally, as he limped back, more rain began to fall, briefly intensifying the already arduous conditions.
The interruption proved to be brief, and racing resumed on lap four. Leclerc once again demonstrated his composure, successfully holding onto the lead. Hauger, ever relentless, experimented with alternative lines, attempting to escape Leclerc’s turbulent spray and find better grip on the still-damp sections of the track. However, the wet patches proved unforgiving, making it difficult for him to launch a direct assault. Further back, a fierce tussle developed between Olli Caldwell, Frederik Vesti, and Ayumu Iwasa. Caldwell attempted a bold move on Vesti but was forced to concede, falling back into the clutches of Iwasa. The Prema driver, under immense pressure, then unfortunately missed his braking point into Turn 1, running wide and losing a position to Iwasa, relegating Caldwell to ninth.
The championship leader, Hauger, was relentlessly piling pressure on Leclerc. His consistent pace and strategic positioning began to pay dividends. On lap seven, Leclerc, perhaps feeling the intense scrutiny, made a slight but crucial mistake, which significantly narrowed the gap between the two Prema teammates. Despite this error, Leclerc held on valiantly, defending his lead through a series of demanding corners. As lap eight unfolded, the Prema cars were locked in a wheel-to-wheel spectacle, with Jack Doohan’s Trident car closing in ominously behind them, eager to capitalize on any potential misstep from the leading pair.
The decisive moment arrived when Dennis Hauger executed an audacious and masterful overtake. Rounding the outside of Turn 2, a move requiring immense precision and confidence on the still-slippery surface, Hauger seized the lead from Leclerc. The move was clean, decisive, and left Leclerc with no immediate opportunity to retaliate or reclaim the position. Having gained the lead, Hauger didn’t push aggressively to establish a commanding gap. Instead, he opted for a controlled pace, focused on managing his tyres and maintaining a comfortable distance, ensuring Leclerc remained out of his wing mirrors, a testament to his maturity and strategic awareness in a championship battle.
Adding another layer of complexity to the race, the sun unexpectedly broke through the clouds relatively early in the race. As it continued to beat down on the circuit, the track began to dry at a remarkable pace. This presented a significant challenge for all drivers, who were still on full wet tyres. Hauger’s Prema pit wall was quick to issue a crucial instruction: “cool down the tyres, smooth traction.” With the track temperature rapidly climbing to 32 degrees Celsius, the latter half of the race transformed into a demanding exercise in tyre management, a delicate balance between maintaining pace and preserving the rapidly degrading wet-weather rubber until the chequered flag.
The unpredictable nature of F3 racing was again highlighted on lap 18 when Amaury Cordeel and Roman Stanek collided at Turn 13. The incident immediately drew the attention of the stewards, who announced an investigation. However, the race was almost immediately neutralised by what would be the third and final Safety Car deployment of the day, following an even more dramatic incident further around the circuit.
The race-ending incident occurred at Turn 2, where Ido Cohen and Rafael Villagomez made contact, leaving both their cars pointing the wrong way on the track. In a truly alarming turn of events, home racer László Tóth, who was unaware of Cohen’s stationary car due to limited visibility or track conditions, collided with the Carlin machine, bringing his own car to a halt on top of Cohen’s. Both drivers, remarkably, appeared unhurt in the terrifying incident, a stark reminder and a powerful testament to the life-saving efficacy of the Halo device, which undoubtedly played a crucial role in preventing more severe consequences. Marshals swiftly attended to the scene, and both drivers were able to safely climb from their vehicles.
Given the significant difficulty and time required to safely separate the entangled cars and clear the track, race control made the pragmatic decision to conclude the race behind the Safety Car. Dennis Hauger, maintaining his composure, followed Bernd Maylander’s Safety Car across the finish line, securing a well-deserved victory. Arthur Leclerc claimed a solid second place, while Jack Doohan, having masterfully navigated the challenging conditions, completed the podium in third, adding valuable points to his championship tally.
Further down the field, Olli Caldwell finished eighth, a result that saw him lose valuable ground in the fiercely contested championship standings. He crossed the line behind a strong contingent of drivers including David Schumacher, Clement Novalak, Alexander Smolyar, and Frederik Vesti, all battling for crucial positions. Rounding out the top 10 were Enzo Fittipaldi and Logan Sargeant, who demonstrated resilience and skill to secure points in a chaotic and unpredictable race. Hauger’s dominant performance in Budapest not only extended his championship lead but also reinforced his status as a formidable contender for the F3 title, showcasing his exceptional ability to perform under extreme pressure and fluctuating conditions.
Formula 3 race three results
| Position | Car | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Dennis Hauger | Prema |
| 2 | 2 | Arthur Leclerc | Prema |
| 3 | 4 | Jack Doohan | Trident |
| 4 | 6 | David Schumacher | Trident |
| 5 | 5 | Clement Novalak | Trident |
| 6 | 8 | Alexander Smolyar | ART |
| 7 | 7 | Frederik Vesti | ART |
| 8 | 3 | Olli Caldwell | Prema |
| 9 | 30 | Enzo Fittipaldi | Charouz |
| 10 | 29 | Logan Sargeant | Charouz |
| 11 | 21 | Lorenzo Colombo | Campos |
| 12 | 11 | Ayumu Iwasa | Hitech |
| 13 | 24 | Jake Hughes | Carlin |
| 14 | 9 | Juan Manuel Correa | ART |
| 15 | 10 | Jak Crawford | Hitech |
| 16 | 18 | Caio Collet | MP |
| 17 | 26 | Calan Williams | Jenzer |
| 18 | 27 | Johnathan Hoggard | Jenzer |
| 19 | 19 | Tijmen van der Helm | MP |
| 20 | 31 | Reshad De Gerus | Charouz |
| 21 | 15 | Oliver Rasmussen | HWA |
| 22 | 28 | Filip-Ioan Ugran | Jenzer |
| 23 | 16 | Rafael Villagomez | HWA |
| 24 | 12 | Roman Stanek | Hitech |
| 25 | 22 | Amaury Cordeel | Campos |
| 26 | 14 | Matteo Nannini | HWA |
| 27 | 17 | Victor Martins | MP |
| 28 | 23 | Ido Cohen | Carlin |
| 29 | 20 | Laszlo Toth | Campos |
| 30 | 25 | Jonny Edgar | Carlin |
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