The 2018 GP3 Series was the ninth and final season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also ninth and final season under the moniker of GP3 Series, a motor racing feeder series that runs in support of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship and sister series Formula 2. This was the final contested season of GP3, as the series united with the FIA Formula 3 European Championship to form the FIA Formula 3 Championship.[1]
2018 was the final season that the Dallara GP3/16 chassis package—which débuted in the 2016 GP3 Series—was used in competition, as a brand new chassis package for the FIA Formula 3 Championship was introduced in 2019.
After finishing 3rd in the final feature race of the last season of GP3, Anthoine Hubert was crowned the 2018 GP3 Champion. ART successfully defended their teams' title over Trident after the first race at Sochi, winning the teams' title in eight of the nine seasons of GP3.[2]
Runner-up Nikita Mazepin won 4 races; in Barcelona, Hungaroring, Spa-Francorchamps, and Yas Marina. After having four rounds with Jenzer Motorsport, David Beckmann moved to Trident before the summer break and took 3 race wins. Champion Anthoine Hubert, Callum Ilott, Leonardo Pulcini, and Pedro Piquet all won 2 races. Also, Giuliano Alesi won the second race in Spain, Jake Hughes won for the third time in the series at the Red Bull Ring, and Dorian Boccolacci, who drove for MP Motorsport before being promoted to their Formula 2 team won the sprint race at the Hungaroring.
Teams and drivers
All GP3 drivers competed in a Dallara GP3/16 chassis using a Mecachrome GP3 V6 engine and Pirelli P Zero and Cinturato tyres.[3]
Team changes
- DAMS left the championship after two years of competition. Their entry was taken by Formula 2 team MP Motorsport.[32]
Driver changes
- Gabriel Aubry and Joey Mawson, who raced in 2017 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship respectively, made their series début with Arden International.[17][20] They were joined by Julien Falchero, who switched from Campos Racing.[18] Steijn Schothorst left the team and switched to sports car racing, joining 2018 Blancpain GT Series.[33]
- Dorian Boccolacci and Niko Kari moved from Trident and Arden International respectively to MP Motorsport.[24][29] They were joined by 2017 Formula Renault Eurocup runner-up Will Palmer.[26]
- Tatiana Calderón moved from DAMS to Jenzer Motorsport.[13] She was joined by 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship driver David Beckmann.[15] Arjun Maini left the team to join the FIA Formula 2 Championship.[34]
- 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers Callum Ilott and Nikita Mazepin moved to the series, joining ART Grand Prix for the season.[4][6] Under the series regulations, reigning GP3 Series champion George Russell could not compete in the championship again and left the series along with Jack Aitken and Nirei Fukuzumi and joined Formula 2.[35][36] Fukuzumi will also contest the 2018 Super Formula Championship.[37]
- Simo Laaksonen continued his collaboration with Campos Racing after his campaign with the team in the 2017 Euroformula Open Championship.[22] He was partnered by Leonardo Pulcini and Diego Menchaca, who reignited their partnership with Campos after a season with Arden in 2017 and 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 respectively.[21][23] Raoul Hyman and Marcos Siebert both left the team. Siebert later joined Campos in the 2018 Euroformula Open Championship.[38]
- Alessio Lorandi, who raced with Jenzer Motorsport switched to race with Trident.[11] He was joined by former FIA Formula 3 European Championship driver Pedro Piquet.[8]
- Midseason changes
- Formula Renault Eurocup race-winner Christian Lundgaard joined MP Motorsport for a one-off entry at Paul Ricard, replacing Will Palmer.[27] Lundgaard was replaced by FIA Formula 3 European Championship driver Devlin DeFrancesco for the rest of the season.[28]
- Jannes Fittje replaced David Beckmann in Jenzer Motorsport after Beckmann parted ways with the team prior Hungaroring round.[16] Beckmann filled Alessio Lorandi's slot in Trident, while Lorandi moved to Trident's FIA Formula 2 Championship team ahead of the Hungaroring round, replacing Santino Ferrucci.[12]
- Richard Verschoor replaced Dorian Boccolacci for the Spa-Francorchamps round, as the French driver joined MP's FIA Formula 2 team, to replace Roberto Merhi. Niko Kari was also promoted to Formula 2 with MP Motorsport before the Sochi round.[39] Jehan Daruvala took Kari's seat for the Abu Dhabi round.[30]
- Sacha Fenestraz replaced Julien Falchero for Arden International ahead of the Sochi Autodrom round.[19]
Calendar
The following nine rounds took place as part of the 2018 championship. Each round consisted of two races, a longer race 1 and a shorter race 2:
| Round | Circuit | Race 1 | Race 2 | Supporting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona | 12 May | 13 May | ' | ||
| 2 | Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet | 23 June | 24 June | ' | ||
| 3 | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg | 30 June | 1 July | ' | ||
| 4 | Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone | 7 July | 8 July | ' | ||
| 5 | Hungaroring, Budapest | 28 July | 29 July | ' | ||
| 6 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Francorchamps | 25 August | 26 August | ' | ||
| 7 | Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza | 1 September | 2 September | ' | ||
| 8 | Sochi Autodrom, Sochi | 29 September | 30 September | ' | ||
| 9 | Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi | 24 November | 25 November | ' | ||
| Source:[40] | ||||||
Calendar changes
- The championship will expand to nine rounds in 2018.[40]
- The championship will return to the Sochi Autodrom, running in support of the Russian Grand Prix.[40] The series last visited the circuit in 2015.
- The championship will make its début at the Circuit Paul Ricard, running in support of the French Grand Prix.[40]
- The stand-alone event run at the Jerez Circuit in 2017 was discontinued.[40]
Results
Season summary
Championship standings
Scoring system
Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the race 1, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the race 2. The pole-sitter in the race 1 also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the race 1 and race 2. No extra points were awarded to the pole-sitter in the race 2.[43]
- Race 1 points
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | Pole | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
- Race 2 points
Points were awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.[43]
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Drivers' championship
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Notes:
- † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Teams' championship
Only three best-finishing cars are allowed to score points in the championship.[45]
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Notes:
- † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Notes
- ^ MP Motorsport driver Dorian Boccolacci won the race but was later disqualified for a technical infringement.[46]
- ^ Nikita Mazepin originally qualified on pole for the Sochi feature race, but had his lap time deleted for track limits.[47]
References
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- ^ Paterson, Cameron (29 September 2018). "PULCINI CLAIMS MAIDEN GP3 VICTORY, ART WINS TEAMS' TITLE". readmotorsport.com. Fresh Press Media. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "GP3 Series - 2018: Entrylist". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Kalinauckas, Alex (4 December 2017). "Ferrari junior Ilott joins dominant GP3 team". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ Khorounziy, Valentin (23 January 2018). "ART re-signs Hubert to complete 2018 GP3 line-up". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ^ Allen, Peter (15 December 2017). "Nikita Mazepin lands ART GP3 seat for 2018". formulascout.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ Allen, Peter (16 January 2018). "Jake Hughes makes GP3 return with ART". formulascout.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ^ Benyon, Jack (7 May 2018). "Pedro Piquet gets last-minute 2018 GP3 deal with Trident squad". Autosport
- ^ Kalinauckas, Alex (6 February 2018). "Alesi sticks with Trident GP3 squad for 2018". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
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- ^ Allen, Peter (3 February 2018). "Leonardo Pulcini returns to Campos for second GP3 campaign". formulascout.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Gruz, David (8 January 2018). "Laaksonen moves to GP3 with Campos". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Allen, Peter (20 February 2018). "Diego Menchaca back with Campos for GP3 debut". formulascout.com. Formula Scout. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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- ^ Allen, Peter (22 August 2018). "Boccolacci steps up to F2 in place of Merhi, Verschoor gets GP3 chance". Formula Scout. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
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- ^ "Lundgaard to make GP3 Series debut with MP Motorsport". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
Christian will drive for MP Motorsport across the two races, as part of a one-off entry in the class.
- ^ Gruz, David (25 June 2018). "DeFrancesco joins MP for rest of GP3 season". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ Gruz, David (15 January 2018). "Ex-Red Bull junior Niko Kari gets GP3 lifeline with MP Motorsport". Autosport. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
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- ^ Bradley, Charley (1 October 2015). "DAMS and Virtuosi join 2016 grid as Carlin and Status exit". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Kalinauckas, Alex (16 October 2017). "MP Motorsport to replace DAMS in GP3 in 2018". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (7 March 2018). "Attempto Switches to Audi for Full-Season Blancpain GT Entry". sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ Allen, Peter (21 February 2018). "Trident signs Haas juniors Ferrucci and Maini for F2". formulascout.com. Formula Scout. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ "Jack Aitken Confirmed At ART Grand Prix". fiaformula2.com. FIA Formula 2 Championship. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "George Russell joins ART Grand Prix". fiaformula2.com. Formula 2 Championship. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.[dead link]
- ^ Thukral, Rachit (12 January 2018). "Honda protege Fukuzumi to combine Formula 2, Super Formula in 2018". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ "Entry List". euroformulaopen.net. GT Sport. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
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- ^ "GP3 Fastest laps". results.motorsportstats.com. Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- ^ "GP3 Series Results 2018". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
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- ^ Vinel, Benjamin (15 March 2016). "GP3 teams to score points with three cars only". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- ^ Benyon, Jack (23 June 2018). "Boccolacci stripped of GP3 win on home soil". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ Allen, Peter (28 September 2018). "Mazepin loses Sochi GP3 pole to Pulcini after track-limit abuse". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 September 2025.