Joel completed the best F3 weekend of his career by sweeping to a second consecutive victory with a spirited Race 3 performance at the Red Bull Ring, backing up his Race 2 triumph from earlier in the day.
Again setting off from pole, Joel came under massive initial pressure from Lando Norris – who started the race on two new tyres as opposed to Joel’s full set of used.
The duo ran wheel to wheel in spectacular fashion on numerous occasions, but Joel repeatedly defended his lead.
In all came to a head on lap 18 out of 24, however, when Norris ran into the back of Joel’s car on the approach to Turn 4, damaging his Carlin machine’s front wing and dropping back into the clutches of his chasing rivals.
It would end in tears for Norris, who was forced to retire after making contact with the pursuing group on the very final lap when on course to seal the 2017 FIA F3 European Championship title. Instead, it will now go down to the wire at next month’s Hockenheim finale.
Joel, thankfully, escaped undamaged from the Norris incident, going on to win for the second time of the day.
With second place in Race 1 and a pair of wins in races two and three, this is Joel’s best-ever F3 weekend.
Comment, Joel:
“Incredible – my best weekend ever in Formula 3. This one was a little bit tougher than the first race this morning, but I knew it was going to be hard because we were on four used tyres while Lando had two new. It was very close a few times, but fair play until he ran into the back of me with six laps to go. I think he was maybe getting a little bit too excited, but he was the one losing out and I’m thrilled to have won for a second time today. I’m so happy for everyone in the team that we’re back with good pace and that we’re showing everyone that we can still very much win races. One of the best days of my life.”
RESULTS – Race 3
