FEATURE RACE: Meguetounif wins as Fornaroli seals title with final-corner pass

It was a day of days for Trident as Leonardo Fornaroli became the first Italian driver to win the Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship. While teammate Sami Meguetounif claimed his second F3 victory ahead, the Italian took the title with a final-corner pass on Christian Mansell to take the title away from Gabriele Minì, who finished second on the road and in the Championship.

AS IT HAPPENED

Fornaroli covered off Alex Dunne immediately at lights out and retained his lead into the first chicane, with the MP Motorsport following ahead of Minì in third.

Into Parabolica and the Irish driver was down the inside of the Championship leader to take first. Just behind, teammate Sami Meguetounif took third from Minì with a slipstream into the first corner going into Lap 2.

Further back, Luke Browning was up to 11th from 13th on the grid after the opening lap, but dropped to 12th after compatriot Joseph Loake was able to get the tow on Lap 3 to move ahead at Turn 1.

Battling into Ascari, Browning was side-by-side with Nikola Tsolov but spun on corner entry. Several drivers then made contact in a separate incident further on in the corner to bring out a Safety Car, with Cian Shields, Sophia Floersch and Matías Zagazeta left out of the running with damage. Browning was able to continue but was down in 26th position after a pitstop.

Back to racing conditions entering Lap 7, Dunne kept hold of the lead ahead of Fornaroli, but Minì dropped down to fifth after Christian Mansell got ahead into the first corner.

Fighting for the lead into Ascari, Fornaroli went wide mid-corner and took a trip through the gravel, dropping him down to fifth position and crucially behind Minì.

Lap 8 and Minì was the one into the gravel at the first Lesmo and it opened the door for Fornaroli to pass him for fourth into Ascari.

Up ahead, Meguetounif moved ahead of Dunne at Turn 1 under braking to take the lead on Lap 10.

Mansell was on the move on the following lap, rounding Dunne at the Roggia chicane to take second place in the ART.

Onto Lap 15 and Fornaroli was in the DRS of Dunne and through for third position at Turn 1 to put a car between himself and Minì.

The PREMA driver put a pass on Dunne himself on the following lap to move into fourth position and keep Fornaroli in his sights.

Lap 18 and Fornaroli was on the move again, this time taking second position from Mansell at the first corner despite a sizeable lock-up. Minì followed through later on in the lap at Ascari to remain within a second of the Championship leader.

Another lock-up on Lap 20 at Turn 1 for Fornaroli allowed Minì to close right onto the back of the Trident.

Onto the penultimate lap and Minì got the move down to pass his title rival, who then had Mansell attacking into the Roggia chicane and the ART driver got ahead, tipping the title battle in favour of the PREMA driver.

Onto the final lap and Minì was desperate to keep Mansell behind and worked hard to break the tow. Fornaroli was in the wheel tracks of the ART out of the first chicane and tried to get a late-braking move done but had to skip across the second chicane, forcing him to hand the place back.

Meguetounif was clear to take his second win in F3 ahead of Minì, but with a final corner lunge on Mansell, Fornaroli cleared the Australian taking P3 and sealing the title.

Dunne was fifth in the end ahead of Martinius Stenshorne, Tim Tramnitz, Noel León, Laurens van Hoepen and Arvid Lindblad, who rounded out the top 10.

KEY QUOTE – Sami Meguetounif - Trident

“What a way to end my season. It has been a difficult second half. We have been very unlucky in many Qualifying sessions, but I knew the potential was there. To end up like this is the best way possible, to show that Imola was not luck and I just needed a bit more consistency, but the pace was there. The year has been amazing with the team, I’m so happy for Leo, he really deserved it. He’s been an amazing teammate to learn and improve from, Santiago as well – the whole team. I’m so happy to end up like this with the title going to Leo.”

CHAMPION’S QUOTE – Leonardo Fornaroli - Trident

“Not my race actually I have to say because I did plenty of mistakes. But anyway, we managed to recover at the end in the last corner to get third place and the Championship as well. It’s been a great season, even without a win, we managed to win the title. I want to thank Trident, my family, my manager, my sponsors, my trainer, my coach and my teammates for this amazing year.”

THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

After a dramatic finale, Leonardo Fornaroli becomes the first Italian to win the FIA F3 Drivers’ Championship. He finished up on 150 points, two ahead of Gabriele Minì in second. Luke Browning wound up third on 128 with Arvid Lindblad fourth on 113 and Christian Mansell fifth with 109.

PREMA Racing cap off their fifth Teams’ Championship on 369 points. Trident were second in the end ahead of ART Grand Prix, on 278 and 240 points respectively. Campos Racing finish 2024 in fourth on 179 points, with Hitech Pulse-Eight in fifth with 164.

UP NEXT

The 2024 FIA Formula 3 season has come to an end but there is post-season testing coming next month. First up, we head to Jerez on the 8-9 October before visiting Barcelona on the 15-16 October for the final test event of the year. It will also be the final outing for the current generation of car before the new F3 2025 car is used from next season.