Norisring European F3: Maximilian Gunther wins from 12th on grid

Gunther, driving the same Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes taken to victory here by Felix Rosenqvist in 2013, picked his way through the field largely due to incidents in front of him, and the fourth and final safety-car period played into his hands perfectly.

The race boiled down to a five-lap sprint to the flag, with poleman Alexander Albon - who had led the majority of the race - ahead of George Russell (who had led the opening two laps before running wide at Turn 1) and Charles Leclerc, with Gunther in fourth.

On the first lap of the restart, Albon ran deep into Turn 1, allowing Russell a run into the quick right-left chicane.

The Englishman bounced over the rough on the outside, but kept his foot planted and swept around the outside of Albon before claiming the inside for the left-handed element.

With Albon slowed, Leclerc got a run and squeezed through into second at the final corner, before slipstreaming Russell down to Turn 1.

Albon saw his opportunity and drafted both to move to the inside, but all three ran wide.

Gunther, who checked up early on the brakes, took the lead, with Albon now second from Leclerc, Lance Stroll and Russell.

London-born Thai Albon chased Gunther over the final laps, but the Signature Dallara-Volkswagen fell just four tenths of a second short at the chequered flag.

Gunther had been a distant seventh early on, but a shunt ahead of him eliminated the fourth-to-sixth cars of Jake Dennis, Antonio Giovinazzi and Santino Ferrucci at Turn 1, causing the third safety car.

Leclerc had just slipped down the inside of Dennis when Ferrucci stuck his nose inside Giovinazzi, pushing Giovinazzi into Dennis and eliminating himself and Dennis on the spot, while Giovinazzi pitted for a new front wing.

Other drivers to clear themselves out of Gunther's way included Felix Rosenqvist, who was given a drive-through penalty for a starting infringement, and Mikkel Jensen, who ran wide at Turn 1.

Behind Russell, Jensen recovered to finish sixth from Gustavo Menezes, Dorian Boccolacci, Alessio Lorandi and Brandon Maisano.

The first safety car was caused when Ryan Tveter was launched by Lorandi at Turn 1.

The second came when Matt Solomon tipped Michele Beretta into a roll.

And the fourth and final one was caused by Kang Ling T-boning the spun Pietro Fittipaldi.

RESULTS - 36 LAPS: