With 3 rounds left, Formula 3 rivals Isack Hadjar and Victor Martins are locked in an intense battle for the championship. Who will prevail?
With six races left to go, the battle between the two Frenchman is heating up more than ever as they return from the summer break tied as championship leaders. The pair won the opening races of the season (Sprint and Feature) at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Since then they have looked in another league as they edge closer to the coveted title of the FIA Formula 3 2022 champion.
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An impressive rookie season
In January 2022 it was announced that Red Bull Academy driver Isack Hadjar would be competing in both the FIA Formula 3 championship and the Formula Regional Asian Championship (FRAC). After an impressive debut season in the FRAC season, where he finished third in the standings (taking two wins and five podiums), many people already eyed up Hadjar to be a championship contender as he began his debut campaign in Formula 3.
They were right to bet on Hadjar as he won the Sprint Race in the opening round at Bahrain. He has since continued that impressive streak by earning a podium every weekend this season, except in Hungary.
A seasoned contender
Last season Martins finished fifth in his debut season, taking one win along the way. He returned for a second season of the Formula 3 championship, switching from MP Motorsport to ART Grand Prix. A prestigious team that had drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and, most recently, F2’s Theo Pourchaire.
After winning the Feature Race in the opening round at Bahrain, Martins led the championship right from the start and has never loosened his grip. Initially, he was locked in an intense battle with Prema driver Arthur Leclerc that soon faded away following a string of poor results from Leclerc. But as one championship contender faded, another rose in the form of his fellow countryman and former karting rival – Hadjar.
With an upcoming triple header to finish off the 2022 season, we won’t have to wait too long to know which one of these two prevails. However, with both drivers likely to step up to Formula 2 after an impressive season this might be the only spot. The pressure is on to leave the junior series as the reigning champion.
READ NEXT: Formula 3 – 2022 Season Recap (thus far), Current Standings, and Remaining Schedule
Featured Image Credit: Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images
