Matteo Nannini records a comfortably win as he claims his first-ever victory in race two at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Credit: Formula 3

The HWA Racelab driver made an aggressive but effective move on pole-sitter Enzo Fittipaldi for the lead of the race, and from that point onwards, controlled proceedings and crossed the line first.

Fittipaldi and Roman Stanek rounded out the podium positions in what was a fascinating race two at the Hungaroring.

Starting Grid

Enzo Fittipaldi, after he finished the first race in 12th narrowly ahead of Arthur Leclerc, starts from pole position alongside Roman Stanek.

Matteo Nannini followed in third with the Trident duo of Jack Doohan and David Schumacher in fourth and fifth. Lorenzo Colombo, who had his race win taken away from him due to a Safety Car infringement, saw the Italian start the race from sixth ahead of Aleksandr Smolyar in seventh, Dennis Hauger in eighth, Clement Novalak in ninth, Logan Sargeant in 10th, Olli Caldwell in 11th and race one winner Ayumu Iwasa in 12th.

As It Happened

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Fittipaldi had a great start as he lead the drivers into turn one. Behind him, Nannini made a very aggressive lunge on Stanek to claim second place. Smolyar was another gainer as the ART driver moved up to fourth from seventh overtaking Colombo, Doohan and Schumacher in the process.

On the next lap, Amaury Cordeel retired from the race after he sustained damage to his car with Oliver Rasmussen and Olli Caldwell tangling together and having to pit which dropped the duo to the back of the field.

Nannini, after the assistance from DRS, blasted past Fittipaldi and into the lead. The Italian then started to create a gap and was unchallenged from behind for the rest of the race.

After five laps, Nannini led ahead of Fittipaldi in second and Stanek in third. Smolyar was fourth ahead of Doohan in fifth, Schumacher in sixth, Hauger in seventh, Colombo in eighth, Novalak in ninth and Sargeant in 10th.

By lap eight the race leader, Nannini, had created a two-second gap between himself and second-place Fittipaldi as the HWA Racelab driver continued to pull away.

At the halfway point of the race, the drivers stayed as they were at the start of lap five as Nannini was in a league of his own whilst the nine others inside the top 10 formed a DRS train which made overtaking that little bit harder.

The gap out in front at the start of lap 14 stretched to three seconds with Hauger looking to make his trademark move into turn one, but Schumacher defended well and held onto his sixth place.

Frederik Vesti, who started the race in 28th, made his way up into 17th place as the Danish driver made up 11 positions after lap 15.

Schumacher and Hauger were able to make moves on Doohan, who struggled with his tyres, as the Australian dropped down to seventh.

With five laps to go, Nannini continued to lead ahead of Fittipaldi in second and Stanek in third. Smolyar was fourth, Schumacher in fifth, Hauger in sixth, Doohan in seventh, Colombo in eighth, Novalak in ninth and Sargeant in 10th.

Doohan, within a few corners, dropped out of the points completely as Colombo, Novalak, Sargeant and Iwasa breezed past him.

On the penultimate lap, Hauger moved up into fifth place as he used his trademark move around the outside at turn one to take the position away from Schumacher.

Nannini was able to control the race as he crossed the line to claim his first victory in Formula 3 with Fittipaldi and Stanek joining him on the podium. Smolyar, Hauger, Schumacher, Colombo, Novalak, Sargeant and Iwasa rounded out the top 10 in what was a fascinating race two.

What’s Next?

Arthur Leclerc lines up on pole position for tomorrow’s race three as the Prema driver qualified first in Friday’s qualifying session. The Monegasque driver will be joined by Championship leader Dennis Hauger on the front row as the Norweigan looks to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Standings.

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