Junior Formula Series
After the restart, it was right on the limit trying to get the lead into T3, right on the locking point for all 4 wheels
Dennis Hauger drove a superb Macau Grand Prix to take 2nd in the 70th running of the classic event. The 20-year-old Norwegian Red Bull Junior was denied the chance to go for victory when the race ended under Safety Car.
Arvid Lindblad, the 16-year-old Briton, won the F4 race the previous weekend, he dominated completely, fastest in Qualifying, winning the Qualifying Race and the Final.
A new experience for all the Juniors, the F3 Grand Prix itself was typically incident-strewn Macau and recent Junior Team inductees Pepe Martí and Oliver Goethe finished 5th and 9th respectively split by Isack Hadjar 7th and Zane Maloney 8th. Sebastian Montoya stalled at the start with a technical issue.
REPLAY Main Race | FIA F3 World Cup | Macau GP 2023
Hauger made the most of last-minute call
“It was crazy overall, not the best Qualifying, especially on Friday but today we had good pace. I think that I and MP Motorsport built up to it through the weekend.”
“After the restart, it was right on the limit trying to get the lead into T3, right on the locking point for all 4 wheels. We were all pushing hard, I was just on the wrong side going into T3 so had to back out of it.”
“When I did F3 in 2021 we had a good season but couldn't come to Macau because of Covid. So it was great to get the call to come here now, very much a last-minute thing. I had half a day on the sim and got on the plane. It was not an ideal preparation but I gradually figured it out through the weekend and I think it's now one of my favourite tracks.”
It's different, this track is like nothing else, jumping back into the F3 after quite a while was fun, it was a great job by the team all weekend.
Pepe Martí's weekend got better and better
“A good weekend all in all. The weekend started off quite harsh for us, we had a rough first day, being quite far back in FP and Q1.”
“In FP2 we made a solid step forward, and Q2 more of the same so it's been a weekend of less to more. We made some changes to the car and to my drive which have really made a big difference.”
Today we were quite competitive, I believe that we could have pushed for P3 if there wasn't a Safety Car at the end.
“Overall, quite happy, obviously my first appearance at Macau. P5 after being out of the car for about 2 months so all in all, a decent weekend and looking forward to the next events.”
Isack Hadjar needed more racing
“On the first day, Thursday, I was just getting used to the track and the car also, as it was more than a year since I drove it. A very impressive track, so intense and challenging.”
“On Friday we were more competitive. Heading into Quali I was confident I could pick up the pace, which I did.”
“I had a good first run, P4. Then I managed to do a big step, still 4th but just a tenth down. Went for the very final lap and was improving a lot, clearly for pole and clipped the wall… so P4 that was.”
“The Quali race: Had a good launch, nearly got up to 3rd but didn’t manage it.”
Armstrong ran into me in T3 and got floor damage. Then it was just downhill from there… P9.
“The Grand Prix, a good start again but nowhere to go, stuck in 9th. We only got 6-7 laps of green flag so couldn’t make up positions much. I benefitted from crashes to make up 2 places and finish 7th. A shame to have only a few laps of racing with the pace we had.”
Zane Maloney exceptionally satisfied
A very cool weekend in Macau, I really enjoyed it with Rolin Carlin. We struggled for pace generally throughout the weekend but still enjoyed the experience and maximised the result with the package we had this weekend.”
“I am satisfied with myself, it was cool to be back in an F3 race and of course, I am looking forward to F2 again this weekend coming up in Abu Dhabi.”
Macau is an amazing place, and amazing track, very cool to be sending the car round the streets of Macau.
“For the weekend, came away with P8, in normal circumstances, very disappointing but considering what we were dealing with I am quite satisfied and lots of information for the team to move forward in the future and also lots learnt from my side so a good weekend overall.
“I wish we were back here next weekend. I like sleeping in and coming to the track at one, normally we don't get to do that. The fans are great and I definitely want to come back next year.”
Oliver Goethe passed more than anyone
“What an amazing experience this was. The track is spectacular, I have never driven anything like it, very very exciting. From the Free Practice, I was just building my rhythm, my first time here so it was all about putting the laps in and gradually increasing the pace.”
“This was the right approach in my opinion because Q2 was very fast, it's where everyone pushes to the real limit. I managed to qualify 7th and there was the potential for a lot more.”
“It was very positive, I was starting the Qualifying Race from a good position. Unfortunately, I got hit from behind on the first lap which dropped me to the back of the grid for the Grand Prix.”
From there it was just about making a comeback. I started today 21st and managed to come 9th in the end.
“It was the best I could do, it was an amazing race, I think I gained the most positions in the field and managed to get myself into the top ten.”
“That's a very good comeback, especially for a street circuit like Macau. Overall a great weekend and I'm excited to continue onto next season.”
Sebastian Montoya learning despite technical issue
“I enjoyed the event, I think that the track is super cool. I was telling my dad after the race, it wasn't really our week but it's hard to hate this place because of how cool the track is.”
“In Q2 we were on a good lap that would have put us in the top 10 but the Red Flag came out. That was the pace we had. So it wasn't an ideal Qualifying.
Then in the Qualifying Race, I did a good start, kept it clean the first couple of laps. After the Safety Car restart, I was able to overtake a couple of guys and gain positions so that was quite positive.”
“Today, in the main race, we just got a bit unlucky, the clutch sensor failed on the formation lap. I got to my grid position, the clutch wasn't working so I was stuck. They pushed me back to the pits, by the time they fixed the car I was 5 laps down. I went out, then we had the Red Flag, I didn't warm my tyres, after the restart we had one racing lap and I was able to pass one car.”
“It was quite a difficult weekend but I really enjoyed it, thank you to Campos and everyone, it's been incredible, a big learning curve and we learnt a couple of things we need to develop with the car. It was very valuable both for the team and myself, understanding how the team works in a race weekend.”
Arvid Lindblad wins the F4 Race
“Obviously a super historic event, first time in Asia for me, a unique place, the first city circuit for me, what a place to do, an incredible track with such a variety of corners.”
“I really enjoyed racing on it, definitely my favourite track so far. I knew it would be limited track time, so I did some work at home on the sim.”
“Then when I got on the track for real, just incredible. Only able to do one push lap in practice due to Red Flags, still, I just enjoyed the track so much, incredible to drive.”
“It's so raw, not getting re-asphalted like many of the F1 circuits, Macau keeps the bumps, it's pure, a proper street circuit and I love that, you can feel it, so close to the walls, loved it from my first laps.”
“Practice in general was pretty good, the one push lap we did was pretty good, good pace, felt comfortable immediately. I was almost surprised how comfortable I was straight away, not really feeling any fear or discomfort from the walls, getting right up close to them.”
“Pole in Qualifying by half a second, then the Qualifying Race which was wet, a real curve ball I had to adapt to very quickly with no reference to look back on, just going off feeling. It's not like a normal track with boards and kerbs as references, you are just going off feeling, so cool.”
The main race was really good.
“I had to battle with a couple of Safety Car restarts. Difficult with such a long straight. I had to really nail the restarts, I planned them out in my head then tried to replicate that as best I could.”
“I did manage to hold onto the lead on both restarts. Then had really good pace and managed to get away from the group. Crossing the line was a great feeling, winning at Macau is such an incredible thing.”
Such a phenomenal list of drivers have won at Macau and it is the 70th anniversary, very special, thanks to Prema and everyone, an amazing feeling.
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