Championship leader Esteban Ocon continued to impress during his rookie FIA European Formula 3 Championship season by posting the quickest time in both free practice sessions ahead of this weekends round in Hungary.
In the morning session, the Prema Powerteam driver was the only driver to dip underneath a 1:37s lap time, setting a 1:36.881. Second place went to Ocon’s closest championship rival at present Tom Blomqvist in the leading Jagonya Ayam with Carlin machine, with the Briton 0.255s adrift.
Another rookie that continues to impress is Max Verstappen who posted the third fastest time in the morning session for his Van Amersfoort Racing outfit, ahead of a third rookie in the form of Ferrari Driver Academy driver Antonio Fuoco. Italian Antonio Giovinazzi in the second Jagonya Ayam with Carlin machine rounded out the top five.
In the afternoon session, the lap times were significantly faster as the Hungaroring track cleaned up, but it was Ocon once again who set the pace. He was the only driver this time to set a time under 1:36s, with his best lap of 1:35.801s was 0.224s ahead of Mucke Motorsport’s Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist in second.
Fuoco, Blomqvist and Verstappen completed the top five. With qualifying for the first race of the weekend taking place later today, Ocon will certainly be the one to beat as he aims to extend his 57 point championship lead.
Hungaroring Free Practice 1 Results (Top 10)
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Prema Powerteam | 1:36.881 |
2 | Tom Blomqvist | GBR | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:37.136 |
3 | Max Verstappen | NED | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:37.403 |
4 | Antonio Fuoco | ITA | Prema Powerteam | 1:37.532 |
5 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ITA | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:37.569 |
6 | Jordan King | GBR | Carlin | 1:37.739 |
7 | Gustavo Menezes | USA | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:37.926 |
8 | Jake Dennis | GBR | Carlin | 1:38.117 |
9 | Felix Serralles | USA | Team West-Tec F3 | 1:38.137 |
10 | Roy Nissany | ISR | Mucke Motorsport | 1:38.186 |
Hungaroring Free Practice 2 Results (Top 10)
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Prema Powerteam | 1:35.801 |
2 | Felix Rosenqvist | SWE | Mucke Motorsport | 1:36.025 |
3 | Antonio Fuoco | ITA | Prema Powerteam | 1:36.329 |
4 | Tom Blomqvist | GBR | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:36.472 |
5 | Max Verstappen | NED | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:36.522 |
6 | Gustavo Menezes | USA | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:36.584 |
7 | Jordan King | GBR | Carlin | 1:36.612 |
8 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ITA | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:36.620 |
9 | Dennis van de Laar | NED | Prema Powerteam | 1:36.632 |
10 | Seal Galael | INO | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:36.932 |