Formula 3: Rookie Leclerc Claims Shock Second Place in Macau

Volkswagen driver misses out on victory at the unofficial Formula 3 World Championship by just 1.1 seconds
Antonio Giovinazzi produces stunning fightback to climb from tenth to fourth

Wolfsburg. Volkswagen driver Charles Leclerc (MC) produced an impressive display to finish runner-up on the winding, crash barrier-lined streets of Macau. The 18-year-old rookie missed out on victory at the iconic Formula 3 Grand Prix in the gambling paradise by just 1.1 seconds. The youngster from the Van Amersfoort Racing team was embroiled in a thrilling duel with Felix Rosenqvist (Dallara-Mercedes) for the full 15-lap race on Sunday. The European Formula 3 champion from Sweden successfully defended the title he won last year. With eight wins to its name, Volkswagen remains the most successful Formula 3 engine supplier in the history of the Macau Grand Prix.

Another driver who could hold his head up high after the highlight of the Formula 3 season in Macau’s concrete jungle was fourth-placed Antonio Giovinazzi. The Italian from the Carlin team, “powered by Volkswagen”, finished first in Saturday’s qualifying race. However, a 20-second penalty resulted in the man who finished runner-up in the European Championship losing his pole position and starting from down in tenth on the grid. Despite the 6.2-kilometre street circuit offering few overtaking opportunities, Giovinazzi launched a spectacular fightback that propelled him into fourth place, less than a second from claiming a spot on the podium. He was followed over the line by Germany’s Markus Pommer of the Motopark team. As such, three drivers with the Formula 3 engine from Wolfsburg finished in the top five.

The Volkswagen trio played a major role in what was an entertaining race – particularly Charles Leclerc, who stunned the experts with a number of spectacular manoeuvres on his debut in Macau. The teenager passed pole-sitter Rosenqvist on the outside coming into the Lisboa corner on the opening lap. The Swede fought back at the start of the second lap, but Leclerc passed him again at the same spot. The race was then red-flagged following a collision.

Rosenqvist, boasting a wealth of experience in Macau, passed Leclerc at the re-start on lap four. For the rest of the race, the two drivers were embroiled in a thrilling duel, each clocking fastest laps. In the end, Leclerc had to settle for a creditable second place. His team-mate Alessio Lorandi (I) was also among the front-runners, finishing seventh. On the final lap, Brazilian Sérgio Sette Câmara of the Motopark team set the fastest Formula 3 race lap in the history of Macau, clocking a time of 2:10.186 minutes.

That rounded off a strong performance from the Volkswagen drivers in this year’s Formula 3 season. The 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship yielded twelve wins, 46 podium finishes and 171 top-ten results, “powered by Volkswagen”.

Quotes after the Formula 3 Grand Prix, Macau

Charles Leclerc (MC, Van Amersfoort Racing), Dallara-Volkswagen #15
“What a race! I wasn’t far off winning, but Felix was very fast and the race was a little too short. It has been a fantastic week, and my team did an incredible job. I am very happy to reward them with the first podium finish here. This success is a very nice way to end the season.”

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