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Following the conclusion of the FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race in Barcelona, two drivers faced penalties due to incidents during the race. Tim Tramnitz from MP Motorsport received a three-place grid penalty for causing contact with another car at the start. Ugo Ugochukwu of PREMA Racing was penalized with an additional 10 seconds to his race time after leaving the circuit and rejoining in a manner that provided an unfair advantage. Both decisions were made based on thorough investigations involving video evidence and statements from the drivers and their teams.

Tim Tramnitz's Grid Penalty Explained

MP Motorsport driver Tim Tramnitz encountered a setback when he was handed a three-place grid penalty following the Barcelona Sprint Race. The incident occurred at the beginning of the race when Tramnitz's vehicle came into contact with Martinius Stenshorne's Hitech TGR car, leading to a subsequent collision involving Roman Bilinski's Rodin Motorsport car. Post-race analysis revealed that Tramnitz failed to secure proper positioning for an overtaking maneuver, resulting in the accidents.

The stewards meticulously reviewed the situation by consulting video footage and hearing testimonies from both Stenshorne and Tramnitz, as well as their respective team representatives. It was determined that Car 17 bore full responsibility for the mishap. Tramnitz did not establish sufficient lead with his front axle over Car 14 at the apex of Turn 1, disqualifying him from claiming racing room into Turn 2. Although the presence of another car through Turns 1 and 2 was noted as a mitigating factor, it did not absolve Tramnitz from liability. Consequently, the stewards decided upon a three-place grid penalty, which will be enforced in the Barcelona Feature Race.

Ugo Ugochukwu's Time Penalty Details

PREMA Racing's Ugo Ugochukwu also faced repercussions for an infraction during the sprint race. He was issued a 10-second time penalty after leaving the track and rejoining in a way that granted him an enduring advantage. This action contravened Article 27.3 of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Sporting Regulations, which governs such situations.

A detailed investigation followed, wherein the stewards analyzed video evidence and conferred with Ugochukwu and his team representative. It was confirmed that Ugochukwu exited the track at Turn 2 and rejoined at Turn 3 via the designated route as outlined in the Race Director’s Event Notes. During this process, he overtook several competitors but only relinquished one position to Mari Boya. Failing to restore positions to Christian Ho and Charlie Wurz resulted in an unfair gain. Thus, the stewards imposed the standard 10-second penalty, moving Ugochukwu from 17th to 22nd place in the race standings. Each driver finishing behind him advanced one position accordingly.

In an exhilarating display of skill and strategy, Richard Verschoor secured a remarkable victory in the F2 sprint race during the Spanish Grand Prix. The Dutch driver managed to overcome challenges, including a touch with Arvid Lindblad that sent him spinning, and capitalized on a late-race gamble involving pit stops. Alex Dunne followed closely behind, finishing just 0.380 seconds behind Verschoor, while Rafael Villagomez rounded out the podium. Notably, Dunne also claimed the extra championship point for setting the fastest lap, helping him reclaim the lead in the standings.

At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the race began with Luke Browning storming into the lead from third on the grid. However, Jak Crawford soon overtook him on the fourth lap. Meanwhile, Verschoor's fortunes took a turn when he made contact with Lindblad at the first corner on lap 14, leading to an investigation by race officials. Despite this setback, the latter portion of the race saw a dramatic twist as Sebastian Montoya and Gabriele Mini collided on lap 18, prompting a safety car period. This incident significantly impacted the race dynamics, particularly affecting Mini, who suffered engine failure and became one of two retirements alongside John Bennett.

The deployment of the safety car led several drivers to make strategic pit stops for fresh soft tires, aiming to capitalize on the final six laps where points were up for grabs. This bold move paid off handsomely for Verschoor, who climbed back into contention after initially falling out of the points. Similarly, Dunne and Villagomez benefited immensely from this strategy, climbing impressively through the field. Dunne, originally qualifying fifth but penalized heavily, started from P19 and will now line up eighth for the feature race following another penalty.

The conclusion of the race saw Verschoor celebrating a hard-fought win, underlining his resilience and tactical acumen. Dunne’s performance was equally commendable, showcasing his ability to recover from penalties and secure a strong second-place finish. As the season progresses, these results set the stage for intense competition ahead, with drivers jostling for position in the championship standings. The next rounds promise even more thrilling encounters, with strategies and performances continuing to shape the narrative of this competitive season.