PREMA Racing achieved its first podium finish of the FIA Formula 3 season as Noel Leon captured third place at the end of a mixed-conditions Feature Race. With a split field in terms of tyre choice, dry or wets, rain started to fall in the formation lap, and while its intensity dwindled at one point, it picked up once again, which led to a safety car and eventually to a red flag.
Leon started with wet tyres and quickly moved up to P3, delivering a clever race with no mistakes despite the tricky conditions. On the other hand, Brando Badoer moved to wets before the start, and got back to P14, although he was prevented from taking the full opportunities.
Unfortunately, like most of the frontrunners, Ugo Ugochukwu, who was starting from the front row in P2, took off with the wet tyres. No chances to make use of them came to fruition, and Ugochukwu eventually pitted for wets, although the stoppage meant he could not maximize the move. He ended up in P21.
#1 BRANDO BADOER
"Feature Race done in Silverstone, and it was a really tough one due to weather conditions. Initially, it didn’t rain, then when we were about to start the formation lap, it started to rain. We switched to wets, and it was the right choice, so I made up some places, but the race was interrupted by safety cars and by the red flag. That compromised my opportunities to make my way further up."
#2 NOEL LEON
"Super happy to be back on the podium here in Silverstone. It was a really difficult race. We chose rain tyres as it was getting more and more wet and the weather was not really predictable. I’m happy to have chosen the right tyre, thanks to PREMA for the teamwork. It’s great to leave Silverstone with a trophy. We will work on for the next two weeks to be back stronger at Spa."
#3 UGO UGOCHUKWU
"Not the best finish in the Feature Race. Obviously, we had a really good starting position in P2, but we had mixed conditions at the start, and we decided to start on the slick tyre, which turned out as the wrong choice. We weren’t really in the race. We boxed for wets at the end, but it was too late. It is what it is. The positive of the weekend is that the speed was really good, and I look forward to Spa to make up the points."