Executing a tactically astute race, the Prema Racing driver bided his time until the latter stages of the 23-lap contest, eventually establishing a significant lead over Leonardo Fornaroli.
Fornaroli, representing Trident, surged into the lead at the race’s commencement. However, his early advantage was swiftly nullified by a Safety Car period triggered by a collision between local driver Tommy Smith of Van Amersfoort and Joseph Loake of Rodin.
Once racing resumed, Fornaroli attempted to create a gap immune to DRS (Drag Reduction System), while Gabriele Mini of Prema managed to keep within striking distance. By lap 12, Fornaroli had extended his lead beyond the DRS activation zone, endeavoring to increase the gap further.
However, on lap 13, Mini, approved by the Prema team management to overtake his teammate, started on a pursuit of Fornaroli. Mini, exhibiting signs of tire degradation, eventually yielded to Williams junior Luke Browning, who secured third place and began to pull away.
It took just one lap for Prema’s Dennis Hauger to surpass Fornaroli, with the Trident driver opting not to vigorously defend against the faster car. As the race concluded, Hauger widened the gap, claiming his inaugural F3 victory by 0.89 seconds.
While Fornaroli clinched his fifth podium finish with a shrewd performance, Browning and Mini engaged in their battle for the final podium position. Despite Browning initially holding the advantage, Mini executed a daring move around the outside of Turn 6 on the penultimate lap, securing second place.
Browning finished nearly 13 seconds ahead of fifth-placed Charlie Wurz, who delivered an impressive debut performance at Albert Park. Fellow second-generation driver Sebastian Montoya of Campos pursued Wurz but settled for sixth place.
Rookie drivers Mari Boya and Nikita Bedrin of PHM AIX, representing Campos, secured seventh and eighth place, respectively. Oliver Goethe concluded the top nine ahead of the best-performing local driver, Christian Mansell, who finished tenth for ART.
