I usually expect a bit of chaos during the GP3 races, after all they are young and still have plenty to learn. However I was really disappointed with some of the driving standards during the Italian rounds of the GP3 series and for several reasons.
It seemed like there were two different driver types racing over the weekend: firstly the mature, controlled and fair and secondly the disrespectful and erratic. The latter really frustrated me - alongside several of the drivers who fall into the first category' - because they have such a great opportunity and their recklessness is ruining the chance that they have been given.
The GP2 feature and sprint races contained far less drama than usual, strange for a constant stop-start circuit, which was really positive to see. Of course, there were a few scrapes but nothing too controversial and nothing that had me throwing my hands up in the air through sheer frustration.
GP3, on the other hand, was a very different matter. I expected more from several of the drivers who got involved in the countless incidents during the two 17 lap races. There were a few whose actions didn't surprise me, but when you have such a good opportunity - driving in front of the F1 and GP2 paddock - you definitely don't want to throw that away.
Race one started in chaotic style with Dino Zamparelli slewing across the grass Luizzi-2011 style, colliding with his team-mate and taking out several other cars. I don't have a clue what went on there but the Anglo-Italian seemed to steer right despite no contact at all and a clear track ahead of him.
This incident has left me entirely confused as I don't have a clue what went wrong for the youngster, only he really knows. He had previously impressed with some strong recovery drives after poor qualifying sessions but once again - like in Spain - he eliminated himself early on.
This not only took out Ellinas - who is in the title hunt - but it also caused Conor Daly to pick up a race ending puncture when he was running in second place - as well as spinning Carlos Sainz Junior, who had made a storming start. Fortunately, the Spaniard raced well to claw back some points.
Alex Fontana also crashed out in the early stages after losing it all on his own. While Luis Sa Silva made contact with Aaro Vainio at turn one in a rather clumsy move that earned him a penalty. As I said before, it was chaos.
Aside from the incidents, it was the impressive Arden driver Daniel Kvyat who won the first race of the weekend after taking pole earlier in the day. He got away well from pole and stayed out of trouble to dominate the race, with Brit Nick Yelloly and ART's Facu Regalia - who awkwardly spun whilst attempting burn-outs on the formation lap - picking up the pieces to complete the podium finishers.
Moving on to race two and you guessed it, more turn one chaos. Zamparelli was suspended from the race after his hideous race one crash, a decision that I feel was quite fair considering the error that he made, although the stewards decision may have been influenced by the importance of those that he took out as well. Sa Silva was given a grid penalty but he would have been near the back anyway, so it wouldn't have made much difference.
Next up it was the turn of the second Marussia Manor car of Ryan Cullen to cause the chaos at turn one (will Ellinas be next in Abu Dhabi?). It was another poor piece of driving that took out a number of innocent drivers. The American was late on the brakes as others around him took a more cautious approach into turn one, slamming into the back of Fumanelli's Trident car.
With no way of taking turn one, Cullen then collected Venturini and Jimmy Eriksson as cars scattered in avoidance. We had already witnessed two cars retiring from the race after Patric Niederhauser stalled on the grid. Alex Fontana had no way of avoiding his team-mate, the Swiss driver clipping the right-rear of Niederhauser.
This sent debris into the catch-fencing on the opposite side of the track. Fortunately no one was standing nearby but it was scary to see the speed with which the tyre slammed into the catch fencing. The safety car was deployed to clear the huge amounts of debris that littered the circuit after the typically frenetic start. Cullen was given a 10-place grid penalty which made Zamparelli's race ban seem quite harsh as they were very similar incidents.
However, Cullen's move showed a real lack of judgement and I was deeply frustrated because the majority of the field managed to take the first chicane in fine fashion. It was just that one driver whose mistake took out several innocent ones.
Another stupid error occurred shortly after the safety car had returned to the pit lane. It really does annoy me when GP3 drivers think that they can race to the end and battle it out without a rear wing. Just pit and retire from the race for crying out loud, as it will only end in tears. This is a real pet peeve of mine, which kick started after Conor Daly's big Monaco 2012 GP3 crash.
In this case, it did end in tears, with Jimmy Eriksson taking out race one podium finisher Nick Yelloly. The Brit had attempted to make a brave move around the outside at the Parabolica but Eriksson was having none of it, braking at his normal point but slithering into Yelloly with a lack of grip.
The race came to a close with another high-speed crash that could have had terrible consequences. Samin Gomez was defending heavily from Adderly Fong along the pit straight with just two laps remaining. Fong went for the inside line but Gomez moved across sharply, colliding with him and sending the Chinese racer over the high turn one kerbs at some speed.
Fortunately Fong didn't hit the barriers but it was a scary accident and one that was completely Gomez's fault. She was simply too aggressive and moved across too much and too many times, clearly an unacceptable thing to do and one that really does frustrate me because it isn't necessary. Fong had the inside line, she moved twice on the straight. It was simply unacceptable.
Jack Harvey took a strong win in race two, with Daniel Kvyat doing a fantastic job to finish in second place. Lewis Williamson raced well with Alexander Sims earlier in the race before moving ahead on route to third.
However, with the bad driving comes the good and several drivers impressed me with their skill and respect on track. Kvyat drove fantastically well all weekend with some stunning overtaking moves, while Williamson and Sims raced really well but most importantly, they raced cleanly and fairly.
Carlos Sainz Junior and Conor Daly also had strong recovery drives in race one and two respectively and Facu Regalia showed some impressive consistency.
Hopefully, with plenty of time to think about their actions, drivers will return to Abu Dhabi for the final two races of the season with a different mind-set, ready to race cleanly and fairly.
Check out some video clips below and judge for yourself:
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| (c) GP3 Media |
It seemed like there were two different driver types racing over the weekend: firstly the mature, controlled and fair and secondly the disrespectful and erratic. The latter really frustrated me - alongside several of the drivers who fall into the first category' - because they have such a great opportunity and their recklessness is ruining the chance that they have been given.
The GP2 feature and sprint races contained far less drama than usual, strange for a constant stop-start circuit, which was really positive to see. Of course, there were a few scrapes but nothing too controversial and nothing that had me throwing my hands up in the air through sheer frustration.
GP3, on the other hand, was a very different matter. I expected more from several of the drivers who got involved in the countless incidents during the two 17 lap races. There were a few whose actions didn't surprise me, but when you have such a good opportunity - driving in front of the F1 and GP2 paddock - you definitely don't want to throw that away.
 |
| (c) GP3 Media |
Race one started in chaotic style with Dino Zamparelli slewing across the grass Luizzi-2011 style, colliding with his team-mate and taking out several other cars. I don't have a clue what went on there but the Anglo-Italian seemed to steer right despite no contact at all and a clear track ahead of him.
This incident has left me entirely confused as I don't have a clue what went wrong for the youngster, only he really knows. He had previously impressed with some strong recovery drives after poor qualifying sessions but once again - like in Spain - he eliminated himself early on.
This not only took out Ellinas - who is in the title hunt - but it also caused Conor Daly to pick up a race ending puncture when he was running in second place - as well as spinning Carlos Sainz Junior, who had made a storming start. Fortunately, the Spaniard raced well to claw back some points.
Alex Fontana also crashed out in the early stages after losing it all on his own. While Luis Sa Silva made contact with Aaro Vainio at turn one in a rather clumsy move that earned him a penalty. As I said before, it was chaos.
 |
| (c) GP3 Media |
Moving on to race two and you guessed it, more turn one chaos. Zamparelli was suspended from the race after his hideous race one crash, a decision that I feel was quite fair considering the error that he made, although the stewards decision may have been influenced by the importance of those that he took out as well. Sa Silva was given a grid penalty but he would have been near the back anyway, so it wouldn't have made much difference.
Next up it was the turn of the second Marussia Manor car of Ryan Cullen to cause the chaos at turn one (will Ellinas be next in Abu Dhabi?). It was another poor piece of driving that took out a number of innocent drivers. The American was late on the brakes as others around him took a more cautious approach into turn one, slamming into the back of Fumanelli's Trident car.
With no way of taking turn one, Cullen then collected Venturini and Jimmy Eriksson as cars scattered in avoidance. We had already witnessed two cars retiring from the race after Patric Niederhauser stalled on the grid. Alex Fontana had no way of avoiding his team-mate, the Swiss driver clipping the right-rear of Niederhauser.
 |
| (c) GP3 Media |
However, Cullen's move showed a real lack of judgement and I was deeply frustrated because the majority of the field managed to take the first chicane in fine fashion. It was just that one driver whose mistake took out several innocent ones.
Another stupid error occurred shortly after the safety car had returned to the pit lane. It really does annoy me when GP3 drivers think that they can race to the end and battle it out without a rear wing. Just pit and retire from the race for crying out loud, as it will only end in tears. This is a real pet peeve of mine, which kick started after Conor Daly's big Monaco 2012 GP3 crash.
In this case, it did end in tears, with Jimmy Eriksson taking out race one podium finisher Nick Yelloly. The Brit had attempted to make a brave move around the outside at the Parabolica but Eriksson was having none of it, braking at his normal point but slithering into Yelloly with a lack of grip.
The race came to a close with another high-speed crash that could have had terrible consequences. Samin Gomez was defending heavily from Adderly Fong along the pit straight with just two laps remaining. Fong went for the inside line but Gomez moved across sharply, colliding with him and sending the Chinese racer over the high turn one kerbs at some speed.
 |
| (c) GP3 Media |
Jack Harvey took a strong win in race two, with Daniel Kvyat doing a fantastic job to finish in second place. Lewis Williamson raced well with Alexander Sims earlier in the race before moving ahead on route to third.
However, with the bad driving comes the good and several drivers impressed me with their skill and respect on track. Kvyat drove fantastically well all weekend with some stunning overtaking moves, while Williamson and Sims raced really well but most importantly, they raced cleanly and fairly.
Carlos Sainz Junior and Conor Daly also had strong recovery drives in race one and two respectively and Facu Regalia showed some impressive consistency.
Hopefully, with plenty of time to think about their actions, drivers will return to Abu Dhabi for the final two races of the season with a different mind-set, ready to race cleanly and fairly.
Check out some video clips below and judge for yourself:
(c) F1andRacing
(c) MotorsportActionHD
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