Jehan Daruvala showed great speed during the opening race of the FIA European Formula 3 Championship round at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza but it was not enough to claim victory.
The Carlin Motorsport driver had started on pole position after a great qualifying effort by the Indian, and had managed to pull a gap to the opposition of nearly three seconds at the front of the field before he was reeled in by team-mate Lando Norris.
Norris made a move to take the lead with four laps remaining, demoting Daruvala to second, a position he would hold until the chequered flag.
“Obviously I have slightly mixed emotions about the race,” said Daruvala. “It was good starting from pole and I had a good start.
“I built a gap to the other others behind me who were all fighting, I think it was up to two and half seconds. Then Lando came within a second and a half and was catching me quickly.
“He caught me and passed me into turn one, I tried staying with him, and had a few chances to attack him back but I think maybe today I was second quickest. Thanks to the team for a good car.”
Daruvala was unable to match his result from race one in the remaining two races of the weekend, finishing eighth in race two and ninth in race three, but now sits seventh in the championship heading into Pau next month.
