Formula 3 once again put on a show around Silverstone, with changing weather conditions and major shake ups in the standings. Feeder Series sums up the main takeaways from the seventh round of the 2024 season.

By Daniele Spadi

Lindblad goes two for two

The British fans witnessed one of their own do the double on home turf for the first time in the history of the series. Coming into the weekend, Arvid Lindblad was one of the three multiple race winners on the grid, having triumphed in the opening sprint race of the season around Bahrain and in Barcelona’s feature race.

The Brit was by far the brightest star of his home weekend. After a solid qualifying session that saw him place in eleventh, he was able to start on the front row for the sprint race. Making the move on pole sitter Noel León at the start, he was then able to build a healthy lead – even despite the safety car interruptions – and never looked back enroute to his third victory.

On Sunday, however, he did an even better job. With a drying track, he opted to pit at the end of the formation lap for dry tyres, and he proceeded to make lots of places on the opening sequences. Despite a somber middle part of the race – where the rain picked up in intensity – Lindblad decided to stick with his decision and wait for what looked to be a drier final few laps. 

His gamble ultimately paid off, as he crossed the line in second behind Callum Voisin – who had started on dries – but inherited the win due to the Rodin driver’s 10-second penalty.

Overall, Lindblad showed why he should be considered one of the title favourites despite his lack of experience with the car. The British rookie is now up to second in the standings with a record-equalling four wins in the season, and he now has three more weekends to not only become the most successful driver in F3 history, but to be the first Brit to win the drivers’ title since the series’ rebrand in 2019.

Minì takes the championship lead

Though all eyes were on Lindblad, it was his Prema teammate Gabriele Minì who was able to take the championship lead after the seventh round of the 2024 season. The Italian, who already demonstrated his raw speed in his rookie campaign last year, is now showing the consistency he lacked in 2023. With 11 points finishes in 14 races, the 19-year-old now leads the way in the championship, and with only six races left, he is in a golden position to be fighting for the title.

Around the historical Silverstone Circuit, Minì was once again very consistent, bringing home the same results he had scored back at the Red Bull Ring the week before. After a solid sixth in the sprint race, he also gambled on slicks at the end of the feature race’s formation lap together with Lindblad. Though he seemed to have slightly better pace at first, he then settled for second position – a great result that proved his ability to make the right decisions at the right time.

Compared to his teammate, Minì has experience on his side – having won at the Hungaroring last season and knowing how the car handles around Spa and Monza, too. Only time will tell us if this additional factor will prove crucial for him to seal the deal, but he now has the best seat in the house going into the final stretch of the 2024 season.

A masterclass on home soil

Ahead of his home race weekend, Callum Voisin was still looking for his first points finish of the season. Though Rodin struggled as a whole at the start of 2024, the first few signals of life came in Monaco, where Joseph Loake was able to finish twice inside the top 10 – and Voisin himself ended up twelfth and thirteenth in the two races around the Principality. The reigning GB3 champion came to Silverstone with a very positive mindset, knowing that the experience gained on his home track during the years – and some favourable weather conditions – could come in handy. 

In qualifying, he was able to nail the final lap of the session to put his Rodin in ninth, a result that gave him the chance to fight for points in both races.

In a delayed sprint race due to adverse weather conditions, Voisin stayed calm and managed to make up ground throughout the 18 laps, ultimately finishing in a brilliant fourth. But although his performance on Saturday was nothing short of excellent, Sunday was somehow even better. Having decided to start on slicks, he was able to follow the same path of both Lindblad and Minì, though the Brit stayed in front since he did not pit for new tyres like his main two rivals.

Voisin ultimately crossed the line in first at the end of the 22 laps; however, a 10-second time penalty for overtaking Max Esterson off the track in the early stages of the race meant that the Brit would drop to third place. Despite the changed result, it was still a fantastic result for the 18-year-old, who seems to have finally found his footing in the series.

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency