Fraser MasefieldDennis Hauger is a step closer to winning his first Formula 3 title after beating Prema teammate Arthur Leclerc to the chequered flag in Hungary’s feature race.
The Norwegian driver had to be at his level best to master a treacherously wet circuit to beat pole sitter Leclerc to the flag, overtaking the Monegasque around the outside of Turn 3 on lap nine and holding on to take the win.
“I tried to keep it clean at the beginning and after that I got the jump to P1 and really happy for that,” commented the race winner afterward. “Really happy with the move. It was a good fight with my teammate so really good points for the championship, so I have to be happy with this weekend overall.
“The key this year is consistency, especially with the new format this year, so we are doing a good job so far and just happy and will keep working hard as always.”
HAUGER: "I'm really happy, it was a good fight with my team mate and we got good points for the championship.
"The key this year is consistency so we're doing a good job so far but we got to keep working hard"#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F3 pic.twitter.com/CNRlgQidRV
— Formula 3 (@FIAFormula3) August 1, 2021
For Hauger’s teammate Leclerc, second position keeps him in the hunt and was the next best prize despite the disappointment of not converting pole position into the race victory.
“It was difficult at the beginning of the race and I was struggling. It was the first time I used wet tyres except from Paul Ricard and I had some difficulties with it but Dennis was a bit faster in the beginning and drove really well.
“He overtook me on the outside which I didn’t really like but he drove a good race and we did a good race in the second half of the race and it’s a shame no victory, but we come back stronger.”
LECLERC: "It was difficult in the beginning of the race, it's only the second time I've used wet tyres!
"He [Hauger] overtook me on the outside which I didn't like ha! But we'll come back stronger!"#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F3 pic.twitter.com/IkAnvX38ds
— Formula 3 (@FIAFormula3) August 1, 2021
Taking third position on the podium was France feature winner Jack Doohan, his Trident teammates David Schumacher and Clement Novalak finishing in fourth and fifth respectively.
It all means that Hauger holds an almost insurmountable 63 point lead over Doohan going into the next round at Spa-Francorchamps.
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Yep, you really are 63 points in the championship lead @DennisHauger! #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F3 pic.twitter.com/OpXfRReYdJ
— Formula 3 (@FIAFormula3) August 1, 2021
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