Zandvoort European F3: Dennis punished, Leclerc cleared to race

Formula 3 European Championship title contender Jake Dennis has been given a suspended grid penalty after a bizarre incident in the first race at Zandvoort

Dennis, who had clutch problems, crept forward before the lights went out. Although he dropped from fourth to sixth at the start proper, he was given a drive-through penalty for the offence.

Before taking the penalty the Briton slowed in the last two corners, causing a chain reaction that resulted in Santino Ferrucci, who was running eighth, damaging his front wing by hitting seventh-placed George Russell.

As a result, Dennis has been given a "drop of 10 positions on the grid suspended for the next two races the driver will participate" for "driving unnecessarily slowly".

An angry Ferrucci, who was forced to pit for a new wing, said: "Out of the chicane I had a four-car gap to Russell, and Jake was five more lengths in front.

"Into the next turn everyone stopped - it's a fourth-gear turn. Then we started to go again, and as we went through the last turn he braked again.

"George just missed him but I couldn't avoid him and I broke my front wing - it was really rude and unrespectful from Jake."

Dennis said: "There was some slight confusion with the radio message, and I went through the last corner not at 100 per cent.

"It caused some confusion behind, but I was driving around doing my own thing."

LECLERC CLEARED TO RACE

Meanwhile, championship leader Charles Leclerc has been cleared to race in Sunday's weekend finale.

Leclerc crashed his Van Amersfoort Racing car in the 140mph Scheivlak bend due to right-rear suspension failure caused in a startline collision in race two, raising fears of monocoque damage.

Scrutineers cleared the car on Saturday evening, allowing Leclerc to take up 10th place on the grid.

shares
comments

Zandvoort European F3: Felix Rosenqvist dominates race two

European F3 Zandvoort: Motopark's Markus Pommer gets first win

Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022

Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022

Plus
Plus
FIA F2
Megan White

Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022 Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022

What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series

What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series

Plus
Plus
FIA F2
Megan White

What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series

Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying

Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying

Plus
Plus
FIA F3
Megan White

Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying

How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape

How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape

Plus
Plus
FIA F3
Megan White

How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape

The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path

The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path

Plus
Plus
FIA F3
Bahrain
Megan White

The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path

The British trio hunting for F3 title glory

The British trio hunting for F3 title glory

Plus
Plus
FIA F3
Bahrain
Megan White

The British trio hunting for F3 title glory The British trio hunting for F3 title glory

How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors

How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors

Plus
Plus
Formula Regional European Championship
Haydn Cobb

How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors

Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021

Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021

Plus
Plus
FIA F2
Megan White

Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021 Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021

Subscribe