Smolyar takes lights-to-flag win in F3 Hungary Feature Race

Alexander Smolyar led from start to finish to win the Formula 3 Feature Race at the Hungaroring.

The Feature Race took place in wet conditions like the Sprint Race a day before. However, it began with a standing start.

🚨 FORMATION LAP 🚨

It's looking slightly wet out there 👀🌧#HungarianGP #F3 pic.twitter.com/d4xsUQxR7n

— Formula 3 (@FIAFormula3) July 31, 2022

Alexander Smolyar remained in front after turn 1. He was under pressure from Zane Maloney and Oliver Bearman but stayed ahead of them.

Reece Ushijima, who lost P2 in qualifying due to track limits and had to start the race from 19th place, got to the top 10 by the end of the opening lap. He tried to overtake David Vidales but went off the track at turn 7 and was passed by Arthur Leclerc.

Smolyar was pulling away from Maloney. Almost 5 seconds separated the top 2 on lap 5. Bearman was right behind the Trident driver, trying to get to P2.

Ushijima was chasing Vidales in an attempt to return to the top 10. Roman Stanek caught them, making it a 3-way battle. He capitalized on Ushijima’s wide run at turn 2 on lap 13 and got to 11th place. Stanek got ahead of Vidales on lap 16, though he left the track. He gave the position back shortly after.

LAP 16/24

Stanek runs wide in his attempt past Vidales!

He moves into P10, but the battle rages on #HungarianGP #F3 pic.twitter.com/rXzxgQssDo

— Formula 3 (@FIAFormula3) July 31, 2022

Francesco Pizzi was the first driver to get slicks on lap 15. Juan Manuel Correa also made the switch.

Leclerc overtook Caio Collet and Gregoire Saucy and moved up to 7th place. Later on, he passed Victor Martins for P6.

Smolyar was out of reach for his opponents and won the race. Maloney held off Bearman at the finish line to end the race in P2.

Slicks proved to be effective on the final laps as Zak O’Sullivan and Correa were 4th and 6th respectively.

The top 10 of the Formula 3 Feature Race in Hungary:

Pos.	Driver	Team	Time/Gap
1	Alexander Smolyar	MP Motorsport	45:02.423
2	Zane Maloney	Trident	+5.560
3	Oliver Bearman	PREMA Racing	+5.585
4	Zak O’Sullivan	Carlin	+7.316
5	Jak Crawford	PREMA Racing	+8.705
6	Juan Manuel Correa	ART GP	+10.059
7	Kush Maini	MP Motorsport	+10.578
8	Arthur Leclerc	PREMA Racing	+10.983
9	Caio Collet	MP Motorsport	+19.452
10	Victor Martins	ART GP	+19.614