Finn Valtteri Bottas, reserve driver for the Williams Formula 1 team, has claimed victory in Saturday afternoon’s first GP3 race of the weekend in Hungary. The Lotus ART man, who started from pole position, was joined on the podium by Michael Christensen and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs as championship leader Alexander Sims superbly rose to fourth position.
Although Bottas’ victory was officially lights-to-flag, the final margin between him and Christensen was just ninth tenths of a second.
At the start, Sims grabbed all attention by amazingly climbing from 11th on the grid to fourth by Turn 3. Compatriot James Calado was less fortunate, suffering a spin after contact with Mitch Evans, who retired into his garage.
Quaife-Hobbs also enjoying a lightning getaway, shooting up to third from ninth and remaining in the podium position for the rest of the race, despite maximum pressure from both Sims and Jenzer man Nico Müller.
As Bottas moves to within three points of Sims in the standings, Aaro Vainio was sixth from Lewis Williamson, Tom Dillmann, Nigel Melker and Rio Haryanto.
Post-race development:
Sims excluded from first Budapest race
Hungary’s second GP3 race begins at 8:15am local time on Sunday (BST +1)
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| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  V. Bottas | Lotus ART | 26:32.020 |
| 2. | M. Christensen | RSC Mücke | +0.986 |
| 3. | A. Quaife-Hobbs | Manor | +9.203 |
| 4. | N. Müller | Jenzer | +10.218 |
| 5. | A. Vainio | Tech 1 | +11.243 |
| 6. | L. Williamson | MW Arden | +11.522 |
| 7. | T. Dillmann | Addax | +15.454 |
| 8. | N. Melker | RSC Mücke | +15.820 |
| 9. | R. Haryanto | Manor | +16.404 |
| 10. | T. Kiss | Tech 1 | +26.154 |
| Full results | |||
| Valtteri Bottas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| More Valtteri Bottas photos | |||
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