Mick Schumacher (Prema Theodore Racing) claimed his maiden FIA Formula 3 European Championship race win At the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps where his father made his grand prix for Jordan back in 1991.
Schumacher said afterwards, "Winning at Spa is a great feeling after I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to convert yesterday’s pole position into a race success. As it seems, Spa is a good venue for the Schumacher family."
"When I saw the rain this morning, I was already happy: I very much like rain and mixed conditions. In the overtaking manoeuvre against Marcus, I was able to attack him from the slipstream. I already made a similar move in race one and therefore I knew that it would work out."
Michael Schumacher won at Spa on six occasions, more than any other driver, taking home the big tropphy after the races in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002.
Behind the 19-year-old German, who had started the race at a drying track from sixth on the grid, rookie drivers Robert Shvartzman (Prema Theodore Racing) and Marcus Armstrong (Prema Theodore Racing) came second and third respectively.
With his seventh podium finish of the current season, Ferrari-backed New-Zealander Armstrong also claimed back the lead in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings. He is one point ahead of second-placed Daniel Ticktum (Motopark).
At the start, Armstrong took the lead while Schumacher came out on top in a fierce battle with Guanyu Zhou at the end of the Kemmel straight. Schumacher returned from the opening lap in third place behind Armstrong and Shvartzman.
On the following laps, the Prema trio was able to pull away from the rest of the field that was led by Jehan Daruvala (Carlin). While the Indian lost his fourth place to Jüri Vips (Motopark), Armstrong got under increasing pressure from Shvartzman. On lap nine, Schumacher also became involved in the battle for the lead and made his move one lap later.
Firstly, he overtook Shvartzman. Then he put his car alongside Armstrong’s with a brave move at the famous Eau Rouge corner and moved up into the lead. He held on to this position until the chequered flag was out and this celebrated his maiden race win in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
In the 15th race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season, the drivers who finished behind race winner Schumacher in the top ten were Shvartzman, Armstrong, Vips, Daniel Ticktum, Enaam Ahmed (Hitech Bullfrog GP), Jonathan Aberdein (Motopark), Sebastian Fernandez (Motopark), Alex Palou (Hitech Bullfrog GP) and Fabio Scherer (Motopark). The 16th to 18th race of the season will be taking place at Silverstone in three weeks.