ROAD TO F1: Renault junior Piastri wins on F3 debut after shrugging off Turn 1 collision

The 2020 FIA Formula 3 season began pretty much as 2019 ended – dominated by PREMA. The reigning champions sealed an emphatic 1-2 finish thanks to Renault junior Oscar Piastri – who avoided a crash with the polesitter – and American Logan Sargeant.

The new-look grid put on a show for the first Grand Prix weekend of 2020, and F3 had the honour of staging the first race.

Polesitter Sebastian Fernandez of ART Grand Prix stuttered when the lights went out, allowing Lirim Zendeli and Piastri to fire past him. Clearly irked, the Spaniard attempted to instantly get back in front, but he ran out of room on the outside and clipped Piastri. Fernandez was dumped into the gravel and his race was over.

Any fears that Piastri may have suffered damage himself were swiftly brushed aside as the PREMA racer dove down the outside of Zendeli for the lead at Turn 3. The Aussie let those behind him battle to amass a 3s lead in front and fought off late concerns about the degradation of his rear tyres to seal an impressive victory.

READ MORE: F3: Who are the big names to watch in 2020?

Zendeli would eventually drop to fifth, allowing Sargeant to claim P2 and the third PREMA of Frederik Vesti to seal fourth. Sandwiched between them in third was Alex Peroni, who scored his F3 podium on his return to racing after a horror injury last year in Monza ended his season early.

For the full report, results and more news, visit the official F3 website.