The first Feature Race of the 2023 season of Formula 3 has just ended, leaving room for the joy of celebrations and the bitterness of a lost victory. Gabriel Bortoleto wins in Bahrain, thanks to a 5 second penalty assigned to the leader of the race, Gabriele Mini. While the driver of Palermo origin slips to eighth place, they get on the podium, together with Bortoleto, Oliver Goethe and a fantastic Dino Beganovic.
Minì-Bortoleto, breathtaking duel
This race saw a front row formed by the two rookies, who pushed their car to the max in qualifying on Friday, to get that fast lap worthy of pole position this Sunday. On Friday Minì had the upper hand, securing first place. today though, Bortoleto's brilliant start immediately reversed the starting positions.
First lap to forget for Minì, who after losing the position at number #5 of the Trident team, ends up under the sights of Grégorie Saucy who puts him behind him. On lap 4, Minì regains the position taken from Saucy by taking advantage of the DRS, right at the point where, a few laps before, he had lost the leadership of the race. The advantage gained by Bortoleto is in vain when he shoots a yellow flag and all cars are forced to follow the Safety Car. At the restart, the Alpine driver academy driver didn't think long before attacking the adversary in front of him.
Minì overtakes Bortoleto, but he is given a 5 second penalty for breaking the starting procedure. Despite this Gabriele tried in every way to lengthen the distance from his opponent to try to get on the podium, despite the penalty, but it wasn't enough. Understandable bitterness and anger, those expressed on the radio teams after the checkered flag, for what could have been a fantastic victory on the debut weekend of the Hitech driver.
Safety Car protagonist once again
Just like in the Sprint Race, the Safety Car entered the track twice in this race too. The first time on lap 7, after the contact between Smith and Boya, which saw Smith turned the other way, while Mari Boya had to stop her car in turn 10. Smith was also involved in the second accident which caused the second Safety Car. The Australian collides with Roberto Faria, once again finding himself with the car facing the wrong way towards the track. The race ends under the Safety Car, removing a It undermined the possibility of acquiring the advantage necessary to "undo" the penalty.
Exceptional Luke Browning who starting from 17th place, gains 12 positions and manages to reach fifth place. Dino Beganovic, on the other hand, manages to move up the standings. He finds himself fighting for fifth place with Frederik, but the Swede has the upper hand thanks to the dose of DRS he has available. On the penultimate lap, the Prema driver manages to catch up with Saucy, stealing fourth place from him, which turned into a podium due to the penalty to Minì.
The weekend in Bahrain for Formula 3 ends here. Next appointment? Melborune!
