Hitech GP encountered an outing of high frustration at Zandvoort in The Netherlands over the weekend, 16th/17th July, with the British team having to settle for a best finish of fifth, courtesy of George Russell, during the sixth event of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season.

After qualifying 3rd in the opening session, Russell was made to start in 7th after a penalty carried over from the Norisring finale. A frustrating race on the notoriously difficult circuit to overtake on meant Russell finished in 7th position.

Russell qualified in 8th and 5th positions in the second qualifying event in another tightly contested qualifying session.

The second race was much like the first, short of overtakes chances on the tight and twisty circuit. Russell was overtaken by teammate Barnicoat in the early stages. Despite apply large amounts of pressure, Russell was unable to pass, finishing the race in 9th.

In the third and final race, starting from 5th position. Russell had a look at trying to go around the outside in a bid for fourth at Turn One but had to stay fifth on the exit and thereafter, as was the way all weekend, the order remained static and very processional to the finish on lap 23.

George Russell “It was what we expected really this weekend – Zandvoort is probably one of the best tracks to drive over a single lap in qualifying but in the races, after Turn One on lap one, that’s it and there’s pretty much nothing you can do."
" It’s a bit of a shame, where you start is where you finish really in F3 here but we’ve taken some solid points and still have 12 races to go to see what we can do.”

The next FIA Formula 3 event takes place a the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on the 28th-30th July.

Report: Hitech GP

Images: Wafeproject (Davide Pastanella) & Thomas Suer