Rivera claims first F3 victory in chaotic Red Bull Ring sprint race

Photo: Red Bull

Red Bull junior Ernesto Rivera claimed a maiden FIA Formula 3 victory at the Red Bull Ring in the sprint race.

Pedro Clerot and Jin Nakamura completed the podium finishers after a thrilling battle between the pair.

Off the back of a sprint race victory in Barcelona, Prema’s James Wharton converted his pole position into the race lead at turn 1. Behind him, Rivera tucked in behind while contact between the two Tridents of Noah Stromsted and Freddie Slater saw the British driver spinning off at turn 1 with a broken rear suspension.

When racing got underway once more on lap 5, Wharton and Rivera pulled clear of Nakamura, who had snatched third away from Clerot prior to the safety car.

Further back the battles continued, Taito Kato moving past Hiyu Yamakoshi for seventh with Williams junior Alessandro Guisti finding his way past the Van Amersfoort Racing driver just one corner later at turn 5.

The virtual safety car briefly came out after contact between Fionn Mclaughlin and Enzo Deligny, the Frenchman cutting across the front of the Irishman, hitting his front wing and leaving debris down at turn 3.

By half race distance, Wharton began to come under significant pressure from Rivera, the Campos Racing driver diving to the inside of turn 3 on lap 11 and making contact with the Australian’s rear tyre. The pair remained wheel-to-wheel into turn 4, Wharton clinging to the lead while behind Clerot and Nakamura locked horns over third place.

The Prema driver managed to hang on for three laps more before he succumb to the pressure, Rivera shooting past on the outside of turn 4 for the race lead.

Clerot continued to pile the pressure on Nakamura who held firm; behind them Noah Stromsted found a way past MP Motorsport’s Tuukka Taponen for sixth place as the duo, along with ART’s Kanato Le in fifth, began to close up to the back of the battle for third.

Clerot’s futile attacks continued up to the last lap where the Rodin driver finally found his way past. With Nakumura trapped behind the gearbox of a slow-moving Wharton, Clerot was able to pull alongside into turn 3 and breeze past the duo into turn 4.

Clerot managed to barge past Wharton for third with Stromsted completing a similar move on Le moving his Trident into fifth.

Rivera remained in a class of his own and was able to cross the line untroubled, 1.7 seconds clear of Clerot and Nakamura behind. Wharton and Stromsted held firm in fourth and fifth with Le, Taponen, Kato and Yamakoshi all within two seconds of Stromsted.

Race results (21 laps)