Frederik Vesti won in Saturday’s FIA Formula 3 race at Monza after a thrilling battle between the front runners from start to finish.
The Danish driver fought back from ninth on the grid after picking up a three-place penalty for impeding Jake Hughes in qualifying.
Theo Pourchaire led for the majorty of the event but a Safety Car period half-way through due to Sebastian Fernandez spinning his ART into the gravel trap on the exit of Ascari chicane.
Vesti though, was on a charge from third on the restart to pass Hughes straight away into Turn 1 and with three laps to go, he was alongside Pourchaire with DRS to take the lead.
The 2019 Formula Regional European champion was able to maintain his stay at the front to take his second F3 victory and collects the points for the fastest lap, clinching the Teams’ Championship for the PREMA team this season.
Pourchaire was second ahead of Oscar Piastri, who had climbed his way back up to third after starting 15th due to a grid penalty.
With Logan Sargeant not scoring after contact with Clement Novalak at the Della Roggia chicane, Piastri takes over the lead in the Drivers’ Standings by eight points.
David Beckmann was fourth ahead of Jake Hughes, Liam Lawson, Lirim Zendeli, Bent Viscaal and Enzo Fittipaldi.
Michael Belov picked up his first point in the series and will start on reverse-grid pole for the second race of the weekend.
The FIA F3 grid will continue to battle it out on Sunday morning at 08:45 BST.