Nael top in FIA F3 practice in Monaco as Wharton crashes heavily

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Theophile Nael topped a disrupted FIA Formula 3 practice session on the streets of Monaco that featured a heavy crash for Prema’s James Wharton.

Frenchman Nael continued Campos Racing’s strong start to the campaign as his teammate Ugo Ugochukwu completed the top three, the duo split by Trident’s Freddie Slater.

As the session began, drivers spent the opening laps acclimatising to the start of a race weekend after a break in competitive action of nearly three months.

Nael was first to set a representative lap time, continuing Campos’ strong pace that was seen in Melbourne. However, his time of a 1m32.740s was quickly deleted for a track limits violation.

Wharton soon shot to the top of the timesheets with a 1m29.145s but the Australian was quickly displaced by Bruno Del Pino and then Gerrard Xie who set the pace with a 1m28.109s.

On Wharton’s following lap he suffered a huge crash at the Swimming Pool appeared to lose steering on entry. The Australian limped away whilst running was halted as the marshals recovered the damaged Prema car.

With extensive barrier repairs needed, drivers didn’t return to the track for half an hour but were given an extra 15 minutes, meaning 30 minutes remained at the resumption.

Nael returned to the top early on before Xie displaced him, setting a 1m27.444s as AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides tucked in 0.06s behind.

Rodin Motorsport found pace to improve with Brando Badoer taking to the top with a 1m27.055s, while his teammate Pedro Clerot snatched second away from ART Grand Prix’s Maciej Gladysz.

With 10 minutes remaining, Del Pino stormed clear at the top of the timesheets with a 1.26.482 leaving him 0.573s clear of Badoer, who then improved to be 0.257s adrift.

Trident’s Slater leapt up the order from 18th to third before Nael returned to the head of the field with a 1m26.460s.

The yellow flags flew as both Jose Garfias and Hiyu Yamakosi found the run off at Sainte Devote.

Campos continued to show their hand, championship leader Ugochukwu going fastest before Nael displaced him, this time with a 1m25.860s.

As the chequered flag fell nobody could beat Nael who went even faster on his final lap, improving by 0.012s to a 1m25.794s.

DAMS driver Nicola Lacorte hit the wall on his last lap but managed to return to the pitlane, as behind him Slater was able to split the Campos pair with a 1m25.975s.

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