Starting at poll position, Sahara Force India protégé Jehan Daruvala clinched his first ever podium in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at Monza when he finished second. Prior to Daruvala’s feat, the only Indian to secure pole, wins and podiums at the Formula 3 level was Narain Karthikeyan in the erstwhile British F3.
Jehan switched to Formula 3 this year, post two challenging seasons in Formula Renault. While there were flashes of outright speed during his time there, he was often unable to convert them into results. He finished 4th overall in the NEC with one pole position and one win to his name only.
Driving for Carlin Motorsport this year, (the same team Karthikeyan drove for during his career) the 18-year old Indian seems to fit right in. At the Silverstone season opener, he qualified 5th overall and finished all races in points. With the likes of Lando Norris, Callum Ilott, Jake Dennis, Mick Schumacher, Harrison Newey and Pedro Piquet on the grid, a pole position and finishing on the podium in a straight fight in his second-ever F3 outing is worth celebrating.
There are eight further rounds scheduled (each round has three races) followed by the de facto World Cup of Formula 3, the Macau GP.