Algarve European F3: Jake Dennis wins race one for Prema
Prema Powerteam's Jake Dennis led from pole to flag ahead of Lotus F1 junior Alexander Albon in the opening Formula 3 European Championship race at the Algarve circuit
Team-mate Nick Cassidy started alongside Dennis, but the Japanese F3 leader slipped down to the rear of the field when he stalled at the start and handed his team-mate breathing space at the front.
Dennis wasn't the only driver to benefit from Cassidy's error as Albon assumed second place after working his way up from fifth at the start.
Albon's overtaking opportunities ended there, the Signature driver never manoeuvring into a position to challenge the race leader.
The same could be said for Felix Rosenqvist, who followed Albon into third after a similarly strong start catapulted him up the order at the expense of his team-mate Lance Stroll.
That's where they finished to ensure Prema had three of the top four finishers.
It was a processional race for championship contender Charles Leclerc, who followed Markus Pommer closely in sixth, never threatening the German ahead despite closing to within a second of him late on.
Behind them was the battle of the race with Leclerc's title rival Antonio Giovinazzi and Santino Ferrucci starring after the American swept into the top 10 places.
The pair swapped places regularly and at the halfway mark they side by side and wheel to wheel on the start/finish straight before Ferrucci dived ahead just before Turn 1.
Their lengthy battle had brought George Russell into contention, but Ferrucci managed to steal ahead of Giovinazzi before the Brit could threaten.
Ferrucci's impressive drive continued as he beat Mikkel Jensen to secure seventh while his previous rival Giovinazzi held off Russell for ninth.
Cassidy's poor start was followed by retirement after contact with a defensive Callum Ilott.
RESULTS - 20 LAPS:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake Dennis | Prema Powerteam | Dallara/Mercedes | 34m16.653s |
| 2 | Alexander Albon | Signature | Dallara/Volkswagen | 3.688s |
| 3 | Felix Rosenqvist | Prema Powerteam | Dallara/Mercedes | 4.260s |
| 4 | Lance Stroll | Prema Powerteam | Dallara/Mercedes | 9.791s |
| 5 | Markus Pommer | Motopark | Dallara/Volkswagen | 12.196s |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Van Amersfoort Racing | Dallara/Volkswagen | 12.753s |
| 7 | Santino Ferrucci | KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport | Dallara/Mercedes | 18.381s |
| 8 | Mikkel Jensen | KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport | Dallara/Mercedes | 18.971s |
| 9 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | Dallara/Volkswagen | 20.584s |
| 10 | George Russell | Carlin | Dallara/Volkswagen | 25.480s |
| 11 | Sergio Sette Camara | Motopark | Dallara/Volkswagen | 26.825s |
| 12 | Pietro Fittipaldi | Fortec Motorsports | Dallara/Mercedes | 27.532s |
| 13 | Sam MacLeod | Motopark | Dallara/Volkswagen | 28.166s |
| 14 | Maximilian Guenther | KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport | Dallara/Mercedes | 32.856s |
| 15 | Gustavo Menezes | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | Dallara/Volkswagen | 37.675s |
| 16 | Callum Ilott | Carlin | Dallara/Volkswagen | 37.742s |
| 17 | Alessio Lorandi | Van Amersfoort Racing | Dallara/Volkswagen | 38.810s |
| 18 | Nabil Jeffri | Motopark | Dallara/Volkswagen | 42.001s |
| 19 | Raoul Hyman | Team West-Tec F3 | Dallara/Mercedes | 45.671s |
| 20 | Alexander Sims | Hitech GP | Dallara/Mercedes | 45.721s |
| 21 | Matt Solomon | Double R Racing | Dallara/Mercedes | 46.839s |
| 22 | Dorian Boccolacci | Signature | Dallara/Volkswagen | 47.773s |
| 23 | Ryan Tveter | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | Dallara/Volkswagen | 53.641s |
| 24 | Andy Chang | Fortec Motorsports | Dallara/Mercedes | 57.270s |
| 25 | Matt Rao | Fortec Motorsports | Dallara/Mercedes | 1m02.558s |
| 26 | Zhi Cong Li | Fortec Motorsports | Dallara/Mercedes | 1m04.212s |
| 27 | Michele Beretta | KFZTeile24 Mucke Motorsport | Dallara/Mercedes | 1m19.814s |
| 28 | Arjun Maini | Van Amersfoort Racing | Dallara/Volkswagen | 1m20.374s |
| 29 | Tatiana Calderon | Carlin | Dallara/Volkswagen | 1m23.366s |
| 30 | Mahaveer Raghunathan | Motopark | Dallara/Volkswagen | 1m24.432s |
| 31 | Julio Moreno | ThreeBond with T-Sport | Dallara/NBE | 1 Lap |
| 32 | Nick Cassidy | Prema Powerteam | Dallara/Mercedes | 2 Laps |
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