Paul Ricard GP3: Ferrari junior Callum Ilott takes first win
Ferrari protege Callum Ilott scored a maiden GP3 Series victory in Sunday's reversed-grid race at Paul Ricard, fending off a brief challenge from Pedro Piquet
ART Grand Prix driver Ilott started on pole for the race, but was immediately despatched by Piquet, son of three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson.
The Trident driver completed a brilliant move at Turn 2 having got a better start than Italian-domiciled Briton Ilott from third on the grid.
But Ilott retook the spot at the long Beausset right-hander later in the lap, and managed to eek out a comfortable margin that he never looked like relinquishing.
An all-rookie top three of GP3 podium debutants was completed by front row starter Joey Mawson.
The Arden driver struggled for overall grip in Saturday's feature race, but showed the progress he has made with his team by taking third.
Alessio Lorandi came under late pressure from a gaggle of suitors for his fourth spot. Four cars diced for it, Lorandi leading a train of Nikita Mazepin, Giuliano Alesi and Anthoine Hubert.
They finished in that order as a close battle in the race's final third didn't yield any position changes.
Hubert, the points leader, survived being hit in the rear-right wheel by ART team-mate Jake Hughes on lap four of 20. He set the fastest lap of the race to add two points to his seventh place finish on the last lap.
Leonardo Pulcini, Ryan Tveter and David Beckmann rounded out the top 10, Beckmann having started 18th before a brilliant drive through the field.
Dorian Boccolacci could only manage 14th after starting at the back thanks to being disqualified from his race win the previous day.
Both Boccolacci and MP Motorsport team-mate Niko Kari were excluded from race one because their cars didn't have enough fuel for a sample to be taken by scrutineers.
DRS was again switched off by the organisers for the race distance.
Sprint race result
| Pos | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Callum Ilott | ART Grand Prix | 15 | 28m35.270s |
| 2 | Pedro Piquet | Trident | 15 | 3.491s |
| 3 | Joey Mawson | Arden International | 15 | 5.037s |
| 4 | Alessio Lorandi | Trident | 15 | 6.076s |
| 5 | Nikita Mazepin | ART Grand Prix | 15 | 6.799s |
| 6 | Giuliano Alesi | Trident | 15 | 7.045s |
| 7 | Anthoine Hubert | ART Grand Prix | 15 | 8.464s |
| 8 | Leonardo Pulcini | Campos Racing | 15 | 12.845s |
| 9 | Ryan Tveter | Trident | 15 | 13.197s |
| 10 | David Beckmann | Jenzer Motorsport | 15 | 14.474s |
| 11 | Simo Laaksonen | Campos Racing | 15 | 17.604s |
| 12 | Juan Manuel Correa | Jenzer Motorsport | 15 | 21.339s |
| 13 | Christian Lundgaard | MP Motorsport | 15 | 22.040s |
| 14 | Dorian Boccolacci | MP Motorsport | 15 | 22.222s |
| 15 | Julien Falchero | Arden International | 15 | 23.587s |
| 16 | Tatiana Calderon | Jenzer Motorsport | 15 | 59.395s |
| 17 | Jake Hughes | ART Grand Prix | 15 | 1m14.335s |
| - | Niko Kari | MP Motorsport | 4 | Retirement |
| - | Diego Menchaca | Campos Racing | 0 | Retirement |
| - | Gabriel Aubry | Arden International | 0 | Retirement |
Drivers' standings
| Pos | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthoine Hubert | 63 |
| 2 | Nikita Mazepin | 49 |
| 3 | Giuliano Alesi | 42 |
| 4 | Callum Ilott | 36 |
| 5 | Leonardo Pulcini | 29 |
| 6 | Pedro Piquet | 22 |
| 7 | Dorian Boccolacci | 20 |
| 8 | Alessio Lorandi | 18 |
| 9 | Joey Mawson | 16 |
| 10 | Juan Manuel Correa | 14 |
| 11 | Jake Hughes | 11 |
| 12 | David Beckmann | 8 |
| 13 | Niko Kari | 4 |
| 14 | Simo Laaksonen | 1 |
| 15 | Diego Menchaca | 1 |
| 16 | Ryan Tveter | 0 |
| 17 | Julien Falchero | 0 |
| 18 | Christian Lundgaard | 0 |
| 19 | Gabriel Aubry | 0 |
| 20 | Will Palmer | 0 |
| 21 | Tatiana Calderon | 0 |
Paul Ricard GP3: Boccolacci excluded, Hubert handed first win
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