Felix Rosenqvist has sealed the 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship title, becoming the first Swede ever to win the highly competitive single-seater series.
Rosenqvist claimed the title in jubilant style at the Nürburgring on Sunday morning, completing a clean-sweep of weekend victories at the German venue to settle the fight for gold with one championship round to spare.
The success means Rosenqvist rewrites the F3 history books as the only driver ever to have won each of the category’s true “grand slam” accolades: the Macau world finale (2014), the Masters of F3 (2011 and 2013), the Grand Prix de Pau (2014) and the European Championship title (2015).
The F3 European Championship was first staged in 1975, with its impressive list of winners featuring a host of later Formula 1 superstars – including four-time champion Alain Prost and current world champion Lewis Hamilton (who won the F3 Euro Series in 2005).
“The FIA F3 European Championship title is the last bit that’s been missing from my F3 CV, and to finally have won it is just absolutely incredible,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “It’s been my target for the last few years and it’s hard to explain how much this means to me. I still probably haven’t understood, but I will tomorrow. It will sink in. There is so much to say right now, but I really want to thank everyone at Prema Powerteam and the people close to me for their incredible support. I couldn’t have done it without them. This is a day I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Rosenqvist seals the title following a dominant display at the Nürburgring, where he won each of the weekend’s three races from pole position, setting a new lap record in the process.
“It just doesn’t get any better than this,” Rosenqvist concludes. “It’s been the perfect weekend. We’ve been working under a lot of pressure this year, but we’ve had the confidence in what we do and in the end that makes all the difference. I have never felt stronger and I regard this as the best season of my career.”
With one round still to go, Felix Rosenqvist is set for a record-breaking year in the FIA F3 European Championship. With 16 pole positions, 21 podiums and 12 wins to his name from 30 starts so far, Rosenqvist has already ensured he will be topping the 2015 statistics regardless of the outcome at the Hockenheim finale in three weeks’ time.
Season statistics – Felix Rosenqvist
FIA F3 European Championship 2015
With one round (three races) to go
Wins: 12
Second: Jake Dennis (6)
Podiums: 21
Second: Antonio Giovinazzi (18)
Pole positions: 16
Second: Jake Dennis (5)
Fastest laps: 11
Second: Charles Leclerc (6)
RESULTS (TOP FIVE)
Nürburgring (GER) | Round 10/11
Race 1
1: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE/Prema Powerteam)
2: Nick Cassidy (NZL/Prema Powerteam)
3: Callum Ilott (GBR/Carlin)
4: Charles Leclerc (MON/Van Amersfoort Racing)
5: Mikkel Jensen (DEN/Mücke Motorsport)
Race 2
1: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE/Prema Powerteam)
2: Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Carlin)
3: Lance Stroll (CAN/Prema Powerteam)
4: Jake Dennis (GBR/Prema Powerteam)
5: Charles Leclerc (MON/Van Amersfoort Racing)
Race 3
1: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE/Prema Powerteam)
2: Lance Stroll (CAN/Prema Powerteam)
3: Nick Cassidy (NZL/Prema Powerteam)
4: Jake Dennis (GBR/Prema Powerteam)
5: Charles Leclerc (MON/Van Amersfoort Racing)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP FIVE)
After 10/11 rounds
1: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE/Prema Powerteam), 453 p.
2: Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Carlin), 362.5 p.
3: Charles Leclerc (MON/Van Amersfoort Racing), 356.5 p.
4: Jake Dennis (GBR/Prema Powerteam), 333 p.
5: Lance Stroll (CAN/Prema Powerteam), 198 p.