Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Nicola Lacorte claimed his breakthrough maiden victory in an action-packed FIA Formula 3 Feature Race at Monza, as the championship battle took another twist as polesitter Freddie Slater’s race ended in retirement.
The Italian kept his cool amidst a chaotic race to become this season’s 13th different winner, in the process earning his DAMS team its first feature race victory since joining the series in 2025.
Polesitter and championship leader Freddie Slater immediately cut across fellow front-row starter, ART Grand Prix’s Kanato Le, to take the lead into the first chicane, with Lacorte looking to challenge for second into the Roggia chicane. Campos Racing’s Ernesto Rivera slotted into fourth ahead of sprint race winner, Taito Kato.
Next time around championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu was nudged into a spin at the Rettifilo chicane by his Campos Racing team-mate Theophile Nael, dropping almost to the back of the field.
Rivera picked off Lacorte at the same place on lap 3 but behind the leaders, Fionn McLaughlin locked up under braking, collecting Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi and bringing out the safety car for the first time.
When the green flag waved on lap five, Kato demoted Lacorte to fifth into Turn 1, with MP Motorsport pair Alessandro Giusti and Tuukka Taponen fighting with the Rodin duo of Pedro Clerot and Brando Badoer for sixth.
Under braking for the second chicane, Fernando Barrichello, racing strongly in 10th was caught out by Badoer, and was fortunate not to collect any of the cars ahead as he spun wildly through the pack.
Slater appeared to be struggling for pace, as Le drafted past on the run down to the first chicane on lap six, with the second ART Grand Prix car of Kato following demoting him further into Ascari. Behind them, Rivera was forced to pit for repairs having damaged his front wing against the rear if Lacorte’s car.
Lacorte himself moved past Slater into Turn 1, almost getting inside Kato in the same move. Lacorte was soon battling both Art GP cars, finally passing Kato and closing the gap to Le.
Three-wide into the chicane on lap 10, Lacorte went round the outside of Le, as Kato attacked them both, as Taponen moved past Slater for fourth.
The six-car leading group was locked together, with Lacorte leading from Taponen, Kato, Le, Giusti, Van Amersfoort Racing’s Hiyu Yamakoshi and AIX Racing’s Yevan David.
Erstwhile leader Slater’s problems were worsening, dropping him back down the order, as a recovering Ugochukwu demoted him to 16th on lap 12. Soon after, the Trident driver was forced to retire when his right-rear wheel came off exiting Ascari. When Rivera stopped on circuit moments later, a second safety car neutralized the field, setting up a thrilling finish.
At the final restart on lap 17, Lacorte executed a flawless launch to shield himself from the chaos behind. The Italian crossed the line just 0.723 seconds ahead of Taponen while Kato took his second podium of the weekend.
Further down, David grabbed fourth from Le, leaving early-race leader to settle for fifth. Ugochukwu salvaged an unexpected eighth place, and four points, despite his qualifying dramas, grid penalty and early spin.
With Slater having to settle for the two points for pole position, Ugochukwu’s recovery drive means the Englishman’s championship lead has been cut to just 15 points heading into next weekend’s triple-header season finale in Madrid.