Max finishes his rookie F3 season in third

Published on 19 October 2014 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished his last FIA Formula 3 European Championship race in sixth. At the final round of the championship at Hockenheim, the Red Bull Junior wrapped up an impressive début season in motor sport with a third place in the championship and ten victories in 33 races. Meanwhile, Lucas Auer took the final victory ahead of Jordan King and Tom Blomqvist.

“It's been an incredible season. If anyone had told me I would finish third in the standings with the most victories, I would've settled for that”, reveals Max, who finishes the season with 411 points, nine behind Blomqvist and 67 behind champion Esteban Ocon.

Although the Van Amersfoort Racing driver qualified in eighth for race 3, he lines up on the grid in seventh. Antonio Fuoco received a five-place grid penalty after causing a crash and ultimately a red flag in race 2. This means Max will start the final race on the 'clean' side of the grid. When the lights go off, he has a good start and pips Ocon straight away. “I released the clutch a bot to fast so I lost a bit of power. It's a shame, otherwise I would've had a really good start.”

At the front, Auer and Blomqvist dice for the lead and after several corners of wheel to wheel action, the Austrian moves into P1. In the middle of the pack, just ahead of Max, Tatiana Calderon hits Jules Szymkowiak and Felix Serralles at the hairpin. Calderon and Serralles are forced to retire. Szymkowiak heads to the pits but is able to continue after his visit. The incident between the three prompts race control to send out the safety car.

At restart, Max makes a mistake by going wide as the field turns onto the start finish straight, gifting Ocon sixth place in the process. “I understeered off the track. After that, it was tough to cling on to Ocon, especially since we lacked speed. We just did not have the power and we definitely did not run more wing than anyone else.” That does not stop Max trying. “At one point I thought 'I'll just brake late at the hairpin and see if an opportunity arises'. Unfortunately, I locked up and ended up a bit to deep into the Spitzkehre which meant Ocon passed me again.”

Eventually, the 17-year-old fights his way past the Frenchman. In the Mercedes Arena, the two rivals run agonisingly close to each other with Max' front right wheel sitting in between Ocon's left tyres. In the end, Max keeps his foot down and gains the position. Both drivers receive a warning from race control for the dangerous manoeuvre, but both are allowed to continue the race without a penalty.

Meanwhile, Auer successfully defends his lead and takes the chequered flag and his third win of the season. Behind the Austrian, King manages to squeeze past Blomqvist to claim second. With his podium, the latter secures the runner-up position in the championship ahead of Max. Despite not finishing in the top three, Max does reach the top spot on a podium. His sixth place makes him the highest ranked rookie in the race, ahead of Ocon.

With the European Formula 3 championship officially wrapped up, Max has only one F3 outing remaining. On Sunday November 16, the Red Bull Junior will contest the Macau F3 Grand Pix, on behalf of Van Amersfoort Racing.

FIA Formula 3 European Championship Round 11 – Hockenheim - Day 3, Sunday 17 October:
Results race 3
Euro F3 drivers' championship
Euro F3 rookie championship
Euro F3 team championship