Badoer beats Nael to win Monaco F3 feature race

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Brando Badoer claimed victory in the FIA Formula 3 Monaco feature race after a controlled performance.

Having lost the lead at the start, Theophile Nael claimed second while Freddie Slater completed the top three.

A superb start from Badoer enabled the Rodin Motorsport driver to jump pole-sitter Nael at the start with the Campos Racing driver also coming under pressure from Trident’s Freddie Slater.

Although the field made it through the majority of the opening lap unscathed, the first safety car of the race was then required with MP Motorsport’s Tuukka Taponen in the wall heavily at Rascasse.

Maciej Gladysz dived for the pitlane to change his front wing after the ART Grand Prix driver had attempted to pass Taponen but instead forced the Ferrari junior into the wall on the outside.

After two laps of neutralised running, Badoer led the field away at the restart as Slater swarmed over the rear of Nael.

By lap 13, Badoer had extended his advantage over Nael to 1.2 seconds with the Frenchman seemingly unable to make an impression on the leader. Slater dropped back from the leading two with Ugo Ugochukwu now glued to the rear of his car, with the following cars down to Taito Kato in 11th all close behind.

There was action further back in the pack, with AIX Racing’s Yevan David involved in an enthralling battle with Rodin’s Christian Ho. Having been passed the lap prior into the final corner, the Sri Lankan reclaimed his 18th place with an impressive move around the outside of Rascasse.

Behind David, team-mate Fernando Barichello was enduring different fortunes as the Brazilian pulled into the pits with seven laps remaining to retire having made contact with the wall at Tabac.

Up front, Badoer had comfortably extended his lead over Nael to 3.1s with Slater a further 5.2s behind.

With just two laps remaining the yellow flags flew once more, this time for DAMS driver Nicola Lacorte who had stopped on track. His team-mate Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi was having no better luck on his birthday having been sent airborne by the charging David who had tried to pass on the outside of turn 7.

Even with the yellow flags, Nael closed up to the rear of Badoer but that proved too little too late as the Italian crossed the line victorious.

Slater rounded out the top three with Ugochukwu close behind with the returning Ernesto Rivera completing the top five.

Race results (27 laps)