Lewis Hamilton (ASM F3, Dallara-Mercedes) has triumphed in Europe’s most prestigious Formula 3 race. In front of a crowd of 40.000, the Briton won the ‚Marlboro Masters of Formula 3’ in superior style. At the end of the 107.675-kilometre race (25 laps) at Zandvoort, Netherlands, Hamilton crossed the line ahead of his team-mate, Adrian Sutil (ASM F3, Dallara-Mercedes), and Lucas di Grassi (Manor Motorsport, Dallara-Mercedes). Altogether, nine of the top ten positions were taken by Formula 3 Euro Series drivers.
From his pole position on the grid of the ‘Marlboro Masters of Formula 3’, Lewis Hamilton took the lead right away and soon succeeded in opening a gap on his rivals. Over the course of the race, he continuously increased this gap and when he took the chequered flag he had a 6.8-second lead over second placed Adrian Sutil. Sutil, however, had to fight hard, during the final laps, to defend his second place. Lucas di Grassi and Paul di Resta (Manor Motorsport, Dallara-Mercedes) succeeded in closing in on the German but didn’t find a way to pass him. At the end of the day, Sutil crossed the line just 0.8 seconds ahead of di Grassi. Some 18 seconds behind the dominating teams - ASM F3 and Manor Motorsport - Kohei Hirate (Team Rosberg, Dallara-Opel) impressed by securing fifth place, with his team-mate, Giedo van der Garde (Dallara-Opel), finishing sixth.
At the same time, the 15th ‘Marlboro Masters of Formula 3’ turned out to be the most successful one for the Formula 3 Euro Series drivers. Since the series’ foundation, back in 2003, all the winners of the most important European Formula 3 race have been Formula 3 Euro Series drivers. Christian Klien won the 2003 Masters of Formula 3, in 2004, Alexandre Prémat and Eric Salignon succeeded in securing a one-two - and in this year’s race, all the top-six positions were gained by Formula 3 Euro Series drivers.
Lewis Hamilton (ASM F3): “This was a perfect weekend for me. My win may have looked easy - but it wasn’t. Following my good start I succeeded in opening a gap on Adrian, and then I focused on keeping the gap on a constant level to save my tyres.”
Adrian Sutil (ASM F3): “I’m truly delighted to have finished second in the most prestigious European Formula 3 race - even if I could have delivered an even better performance, today. But Lewis was just faster, so the result is fine for me.”
Lucas di Grassi (Manor Motorsport): “In the Marlboro Masters it’s vital to secure a good grid position. As overtaking is extremely difficult, on this track, I knew that it would be anything but easy to pass Adrian. Therefore, I’m happy to have finished third.”
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