Mick Schumacher continues winning streak in Austria

Mick Schumacher, the son of the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher put on another thrilling performance during the Spielberg round of the 2018 FIA F3 Championship to take over the lead in the Drivers’ Standings.

The 19-year-old driver raised eyebrows with his performance at the Nürburgring two weeks ago when he claimed a hattrick of victories which enabled him to close in on the then championship leader Red Bull-backed Dan Ticktum. The German managed to repeat his form this weekend when the F3 field gathered together at the Red Bull Ring.

Schumacher claimed pole position on Friday for the first race. At the rain-soaked 4.318 kilometres long Red Bull Ring, he finished first in front of Robert Shvartzman and Alex Palou. As his fierce rival Ticktum only finished eighth, Schumacher took over the lead in the Standings for the first time this season.

“I am very happy that things were going so well for me at the wet and drying track. And I am also happy to have taken the lead in the drivers’ standings,” said Schumacher after the race.

After the first race, the German did not let his concentration fall and secured the pole position for the second race. In the ranking of the second-fastest laps to determine the starting grid positions for the third race of every meeting, the Prema driver found himself at the top again.

On Sunday, weather treated the field more kindly than the day before. Schumacher went on to claim victory in the morning race in dominant fashion. The German held his lead after the lights went out and controlled the proceedings despite to three safety car periods which neutralized the race on each occasion. The second race saw Dan Ticktum colliding with Jehan Daruvala and Sacha Fenestraz, enabling Schumacher to extend his fresh lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

In the third and final race of the weekend, Schumacher was beaten by his team-mate Robert Shvartzman after the start up to the first tight corner. The pair went on to accompany each other until the chequered flag fell. Mick could mimic the pace of the Russian, but was unable to launch a real assault on him.

With only one race weekend to go, Mick Schumacher leads the Championship with 329 points, Dan Ticktum is 49 units adrift of the German. The season will end in Hockenheim in three weeks’ time.