Isack Hadjar won the season-opening FIA Formula 3 sprint race on the Sakhir circuit after a time penalty denied Ollie Bearman at the chequered flag.
Hitech GP driver Hadjar climbed from fourth on the grid to finish second-on-the road behind Prema’s Bearman, who had controlled most of the 20-lap encounter.
But a five-second penalty was handed out to reigning Italian and ADAC Formula 4 champion Bearman as he crossed the line for exceeding track limits giving Red Bull protege Hadjar, who had finished 3.5s behind, the win on his debut.
In an all-British front row, Bearman started from second alongside polesitter Zak O’Sullivan (Carlin), after two debutants were 11th and 12th fastest respectively in Friday’s qualifying – with the top-12 positions reversed in forming the grid.
At the start, Williams academy driver O’Sullivan squeezed Ferrari Driver Academy member Bearman to maintain the lead into turn one, with the pair immediately building a 2s buffer to the cars behind.
Bearman snatched the lead into turn four on lap five and started to pull away, with O’Sullivan eventually fading and falling into the clutches of the chasing pack.
Trident’s Zane Maloney came out on top in a frenetic multi-car battle early on to run third ahead of Hadjar and MP Motorsport’s Alexander Smolyar.
The trio caught and passed the struggling O’Sullivan in the closing stages, with Hadjar then passing Maloney to move into second with five laps to go. Smolyar also found a way by Maloney a couple of laps later to take third, with the top three remaining the same until the finish.
But, as Bearman crossed the line to take a seemingly comfortable win, he was demoted to second by the penalty behind Hadjar, with Smolyar completing the podium.
Maloney resisted a final lap challenge from Prema’s Arthur Leclerc, who produced a storming drive from 13th on the grid, to hold on to fourth by 0.015s
Reigning GB3 champion O’Sullivan came home in sixth, 0.2s clear of MP’s Caio Collet, who started 12th.
Kaylen Frederick gained 10 places to finish eighth for Hitech, ahead ART’s Juan Manuel Correa and Campos Racing’s David Vidales, who slipped back from third on the grid.
There were a few skirmishes during the race that hampered a few drivers.
Trident’s Roman Stanek suffered a puncture after contact on the first-lap and finished down in 24th. Van Amersfoort Racing’s Franco Colapinto, who will start from pole in Sunday’s feature after setting the fastest time in qualifying, damaged his front-wing early on and trailed home in 25th.
ART team-mates Victor Martins and Gregoire Saucy collided while running inside the top 10, resulting in both retiring in the pits.
Jenzer Motorsport’s Niko Kari was also a late retirement with a puncture after contact.
Featured image credit: @fiaformula3 official twitter
