Jehan finishes overall third in F3, achieves best result by an Indian
Jehan Daruvala finished third in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 championship, thereby capping off the best season ever by an Indian in an official F1 feeder series.
Published : Sep 29, 2019 18:54 IST
India’s Jehan Daruvala created history at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi by finishing overall third in the FIA Formula 3 championship.
It was heartbreak however for the youngster in the last race of the season as his car did not take off on the formation lap. Jehan was fourth on the grid but had to start from the pitlane. But that did not matter as he drove the race of the season by steadily working his way up, overtaking a car a lap on an average.
Jehan was able to consistently put in lap times similar to the leaders while overtaking. Unfortunately, he pushed too hard and went off track at one point for which he was penalised five seconds despite giving back the position he gained.
Midway through, Jehan was running 20th. The higher he climbed the tougher it was for him to overtake. But when he had reached 12th, his tyres were well past their best, due to his pushing right through the race. Jehan had to manage this additional situation but the Indian driver still overtook three cars in the last two laps to eventually finish ninth on track.
Estonian racer – Juri Vips won the race, but Jehan was classified as 15th due to the five-second penalty.
Jehan eventually capped off the best season ever, by an Indian in an official F1 feeder series, with a total of seven podiums in addition to two fastest laps and a pole position.
“I am happy to have finished third in the championship but disappointed at the same time with the technical issues I had in the last two weekends, but that is racing.” said Jehan.