Misano/Italy, 27th August 2018 – Following his first two wins of the season in Spa and Silverstone, Mick Schumacher continued his run of success in the first of three races in Misano on Saturday. The 19-year-old started from pole position and led from start to finish, leaving Marcus Armstrong and Robert Schvartzman from Russia with no chance in second and third place. “The asphalt here in Misano is very aggressive. Despite this, I was still able to set fast lap times right through to the finish on the Hankook tyres,” said Schumacher after his third victory in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
Race two on Sunday presented the young drivers with particular challenges. A few laps into the race it began to rain a little, meaning the 4.226-kilometre track at the Misano World Circuit alternated between dry and damp sections. With the help of the Hankook slick, the young drivers were able to master these tough conditions. After 23 laps of racing, Estonia’s Jüri Vips was first to cross the finish line, followed by Spaniard Alex Palou and Schumacher in second and third place. Vips: “It was very difficult, particularly when it suddenly started to rain. I have no idea how I won that race. The Hankook tyres really helped me, as you know exactly how they are going to react. I like driving on them, they are easy to manage and last for a very long time compared to other tyres.”
The drivers were greeted with heavy rainfall shortly before the start of race three on Sunday evening, which they all started on the Hankook wet tyre. After two laps behind the safety car, race 21 of the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship was suspended briefly. However, the race resumed a few minutes later in slightly better conditions. Estonian Ralf Aron pulled off a skilful overtaking manoeuvre to snatch the lead from pole-sitter Marcus Armstrong, who came off the track shortly before the end of the race and was forced to retire. The Estonian was followed over the line by his compatriot Vips after 17 hard-fought laps in the pouring rain in Misano. Ferdinand Habsburg from Austria came home third to claim his first podium finish of the season.
“These tough conditions, like here in Misano, suit me. The car was incredible, we managed the tyres perfectly and were extremely quick in the rain. I have spent almost my entire career driving on Hankook race tyres and know them very well. You can drive very fast on them for a very long time. That is what makes the Hankook race tyres so special,” said Aron after his impressive race win in Misano.
Hankook Motorsport Director Manfred Sandbichler: “The young drivers once again treated the spectators in Misano to a display of top-class motorsport in unsettled and sometimes extremely difficult conditions. It is incredible how professional the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and the young drivers are. I am sure that we will see a number of them in Formula 1 in the foreseeable future and am proud to be able to support them on their way with the Hankook race tyre.”
The next round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship will share the bill with the DTM at the Nürburgring on 8th and 9th September.
FIA Formula 3 European Championship after 21 of 30 races
1. Daniel Ticktum (GBR) 222 points
2. Jüri Vips (EST) 210 points
3. Marcus Armstrong (NZL) 190 points
4. Mick Schumacher (GER) 186 points
5. Ralf Aron (EST) 183.5 points
6. Guanyu Zhou (CHN) 154 points
7. Enaam Ahmed (GBR) 154 points
8. Alex Palou (ESP) 134 points
9. Robert Shvartzman (RUS) 129 points
10. Jehan Daruvala (IND) 117.5 points
