Schumacher Name Returns to the Top of Spa

The 2018 FIA European Formula 3 grid paid a visit to the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Race 1 was won by Force India protege Jehan Daruwala and Race 2 witnessed Daniel Ticktum win the race. But in Race 3, Prema and Mick Schumacher dominated to seal his maiden victory.

Schumacher junior seemed to live up to his father’s title of the ‘Rainmeister’ as the damp conditions caused chaos. The part wet and part dry track demanded higher concentration from the drivers. The first sector was undoubtedly soggy. But the middle sector looked a lot drier, albeit with a few patches.

Schumacher’s teammate Marcus Armstrong took the lead on the opening lap ahead of Mick and Robert Shwartzman. Meanwhile, Race 1 winner Jehan Daruvala slotted himself into fourth position.

The 3 Prema cars pulled away leaving Daruvala to fend off other drivers. Motopark’s Juri Vips and HitechGP’s Enaam Ahmed joined the Indian in the fight for 4th.

Eventually, Daruvala dropped to 6th as Vips and Ahmed passed him. The track soon began to dry and the Top 3 were almost nose-to-tail.

The Russian attacked several time for a couple of laps and eventually took the lead at La Source. Schumacher sniffed an opportunity and pounced, demoting Armstrong to third.

The German eventually took the lead on the run-up to Les Combes. From there, Schumacher kept his head and took his first-ever European F3 victory.

The last time a Schumacher name was on the top step of the podium was during the 2002 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. That year, Michael led a Ferrari 1-2 from Rubens Barichello. A decade earlier, Michael also took his maiden F1 win in Belgium.

Prior to his maiden triumph, Schumacher has had three podium finishes to his credit. He also secured his first-ever pole position for Race 2. Sadly, he couldn’t convert it to a race win.