The Sochi Autodrom hosts the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Finale with everything still up for grabs

Russia’s Sochi Autodrom plays host to the seventh and final round of the F3 season, where Prema’s Dennis Hauger and Trident’s Jack Doohan will go toe-to-toe in the quest to become a Formula 3 World Champion.

F3’s Championship finale promises to be a fascinating occasion, with three drivers still in the hunt to take glory in Sochi.

The 5.8-kilometre circuit weaves through the 2014 Winter Olympic park, with 18 turns and two DRS zones, which will provide some crucial overtaking opportunities for the drivers, especially those in the Championship hunt.

Debuting on the Formula 3 calendar in 2019, the Sochi Autodrom saw Marcus Armstrong and Juri Vips take glory, with Prema’s Robert Shwartzman taking the title at his home round after race one.

It’s the Russian who holds the current circuit lap record with a 1:52.583 which was set in qualifying, putting him on pole position for race two.

Last time out at Zandvoort, Hauger extended his championship lead to 43 points with just three races to go and 65 points on offer.

It was Hauger’s Prema teammate Arthur Leclerc who was victorious in race one, narrowly ahead of Charouz’s Logan Sargeant and Hitech Grand Prix’s Ayumu Iwasa.

In race two, Victor Martins took advantage of Doohan and Hauger’s struggles as he moved to within reach of the title protagonists. The Frenchman beat Clement Novalak and Frederik Vesti to victory, with Doohan finishing 18th and Hauger retiring from the race with a late puncture.

Despite his race two woes, the Prema man was back on the top step in race three as he took a pole to flag victory ahead of Novalak and Aleksandr Smolyar in third, as Doohan finished narrowly behind the Russian in fourth.

Racing and success is in Doohan’s DNA, his father Mick Doohan was a five-time 500cc world champion, and when questioned if he’d received any advice from his father, the Trident driver explained that he’s just going to give it everything he’s got.

“Not really, for me in the position that I’m in there’s not many options apart from topping every session so there’s not so much pressure on myself, I’m not leading and we’ve also got a good buffer behind. We’re just trying to do the best job possible and in the end it’ll be what it’ll be.”

Both championship protagonists also gave an insight on what their futures hold heading into 2022.

Hauger stated:

“Nothing’s signed yet but obviously the most natural step is to go to F2, and that’s the aim but first a few things have to come together, but that’s the goal.”

Doohan seconded the Norwegian’s situation:

“Same as Dennis, we’re both looking at Formula 2, but nothing’s signed or nothing’s confirmed yet. A few things have to come together over the weekend and the next few weeks.”

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