Prema Powerteam’s Maximilian Gunther triumphed in a hectic opening European Formula 3 race at the Norisring after Lando Norris collided with poleman Jake Hughes.
Gunther seizes the championship lead from Joel Eriksson with his fourth victory of 2017. The German was running third behind Norris and Hughes for the majority of the race.
With just over six minutes left to run, Norris ran into the back of Hughes into Turn 1. Norris was given a drive through penalty – dropping him to 11th position.
Hughes was eliminated on the spot, spoiling Hitech GP’s chances of a maiden win of the season.
Gunther was promoted into the lead ahead of Pedro Piquet who took his maiden podium finish in the series.
Guanyu Zhou claimed his second podium in three races from seventh on the grid. His team-mate Callum Ilott was hit on the opening lap by Carlin’s Ferdinand Habsburg.
The fourth Prema Powerteam entry of Mick Schumacher has struggled for pace all weekend but still managed to pick up P7 amid the carnage.
Joel Eriksson made a remarkable comeback from 17th on the grid to fourth place at the chequered flag, Harrison Newey was fifth ahead of Jehan Daruvala, who tipped Newey’s team-mate Joey Mawson into the wall.
Schumacher, Tadasuke Makino, Ralf Aron and Nikita Mazepin rounded out the top 10.
In the drivers’ championship, Gunther leads on 203 points, eight points clear of Eriksson and over 40 clear of both Norris and Ilott who failed to score.
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