Leclerc dominates second Formula 3 sprint race at Paul Ricard

The Prema driver claimed a remarkable reverse grid pole position in the opening sprint race of the weekend, recovering from 30th on the grid to finish 12th. 

Leclerc remained unchallenged into Turn 1 after Hitech’s Jak Crawford - who started the race from the second - stalled at the start and dropped to the back of the field.

With Crawford dropping down the order, Leclerc led Prema teammates Olli Caldwell and Dennis Hauger. 

Hauger got past Caldwell into Turn 8 on Lap 8 for second, but he was unable to close down Leclerc, who ran out a comfortable winner. 

Victor Martins put in another overtaking masterclass as he went from 11th to fourth in just four laps. 

Martins got past Caldwell with an optimistic move into Turn 12 to ensure he scored back-to-back podiums. 

Today’s result keeps Hauger top of the drivers’ standings, albeit level on points with Martins.

Caldwell held onto fourth ahead of Jack Doohan, who kept up his impressive run of points finishes in fifth.

Clement Novalak beat sprint race one winner Aleksandr Smolyar to sixth, while Calan Williams overtook Ayumu Iwasa on the penultimate lap for eighth. 

Iwasa was running as high as fourth in the early laps but faded quickly as the race progressed.

Mercedes F1 junior Frederik Vesti rounded out the top ten for ART.

Vesti will start Sunday’s feature race from pole position. 

Click here for the full FIA Formula 3 sprint race two results from Paul Ricard.