Alpine Junior Victor Martins got his Formula 3 title challenge to the ideal start in the opening feature race of the Formula 3 campaign, with the French driver beating Ferrari junior Arthur Leclerc and Gregoire Saucy of the ART Grand Prix.
After starting from third on the grid, Martins took second from Trident Roman Stanek during an early Safety Car restart. At first, the Frenchman had to be patient in the following laps, but was left behind by Van Amersfoort racing rookie Franco Colapinto, who led the majority of the race after the start of the pole.
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Martins made his move on the 15th lap and was followed by the PREMA of Leclerc, who made a remarkable recovery from the 13th lap.
Colapinto crossed the line at P3, but was demoted to a fifth after a five-second time penalty for violating line boundaries. Saucy inherits the last podium position ahead of his ART team-mate Juan Manuel Correa.
PREMA duo Oliver Bearman and Jak Crawford experienced disappointing qualifying sessions on Friday and started from outside the top 10, but recovered in the sixth and seventh.
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Campos rookie David Vidales and Jenzer first year William Alatalo were eighth and ninth, respectively, with American Kaylen Frederick 10th.
Martins leaves the opening round with a one-point lead in the standings, with Leclerc second and Bearman third. F3 returns on April 22 for its second round in Imola.
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