Staňek had bad luck at the start of the F3 season, the French dominated

Formula 3 kicked off the 2022 season at the Bahrain circuit, where the junior series ran for the first time in its history. Thirty drivers, including Czech Roman Stanek, started the season, which will feature nine tracks, with two races. Apart from Bahrain, the Italian Imola will also be contested for the first time. The final is also scheduled for Italy, at the famous “temple of speed” in Monza.

Like the higher categories, Formula 3 has returned to the format of a competition weekend consisting of just two races. A sprint race on Saturday and a ‘Feature Race’ on Sunday. These also differ in the scoring system. While 10 points are awarded to the winner for the sprint race, the Feature race on Sunday is worth 25 points. An extra two points are awarded for gaining pole position.

Qualifying

In Friday’s qualifying, the only Czech in the series, Roman Stanek, immediately drew attention to himself. After two previous seasons, he moved to the Trident team. He won the Constructors’ Cup last year and will be one of the favourites this year. Stanek took a great second place for Sunday’s race. A sensational win for newcomer Van Amersfoort Racing, driven by debutant Franco Colapinto.

Sprint race

Saturday’s sprint race traditionally sees the top twelve qualifiers turning over. Thanks to a penalty for Indian Kush Maini, Roman Stanek moved up to tenth place. Unfortunately for the Czech driver, however, the race ended at the very first corner, where he made contact with Franco Colapinto and fell to the back of the field thanks to a puncture.

Oliver Bearman of PREMA Racing was the first to take the chequered flag in the sprint, but the Briton eventually fell to second place thanks to a penalty. And so it was the Frenchman Isack Hadjar who took his first win. Stanek finished in 24th position.

The main race

The start of the main race could not be described as anything other than absolute chaos. Three monoblocs were forced to retire from the race. Stanek also had to struggle with a difficult situation, constantly dodging the aggressive defence of the “pole position man” Colapinto.

In the second race of the season, the Czech was not lucky either. Stanek first dropped to third place after the Safety Car restart, but then Alexander Smolyar stepped in. The Russian pilot entered the battle with Stanek in a completely inappropriate part of the track and caused the Czech driver another puncture of the weekend.

The main race was won by the Frenchman Victor Martins, for whom this season is very important in the fight for promotion to a higher category. Martins was followed on the podium by Arthur Leclerc and Grégoire Saucy. Stanek finished 22nd.

The next F3 races are at the end of April in Imola, Italy. Roman Stanek will have a tough job ahead of him and he will be desperate to get his first points. But it won’t be easy.

Source:: F3