Starting from pole, Kevin Magnussen scored a lights-to-flag win in the weekend’s first Formula Renault 3.5 Series race at Spa-Francorchamps, becoming the first driver to win twice this season. Joined on the podium by Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) and Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing), the Dane consolidated his championship lead.

In a qualifying session cut to 20 minutes after the morning’s fog delay, Kevin Magnussen reprised his  double pole at Spa last year by outpacing Antonio Felix da Costa, Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin), Arthur Pic (AV Formula) and Marco Sorensen (Lotus) to head the grid.

When the lights went out, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series points leader fended off an attack from Antonio Felix da Costa to stay out front. Making a superb start, Arthur Pic moved into third ahead of Nikolay Martsenko (Pons Racing) and Marco Sorensen, while Jazeman Jaafar fell back to tenth and Lucas Foresti failed to get off the start grid. Home driver Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) suffered a setback when he lost several places after an off-track excursion. 

Up ahead Kevin Magnussen quickly stretched his lead over Antonio Felix da Costa and Arthur Pic, while behind them Nigel Melker shot up six places to fourth after only five laps. The safety car then made its only appearance of the race on lap seven after Nico Müller (International Draco Racing) and Yann Cunha (AV Formula) came together at the entrance to Fagnes.

On the restart Nigel Melker barged past Arthur Pic and into third, with Marco Sorensen getting the better of Nikolay Martsenko to take fifth. There was no stopping Kevin Magnussen, however, the Dane cruising over the line to claim victory from Antonio Felix da Costa and Nigel Melker with Arthur Pic and Marco Sorensen finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Also in the points were Nikolay Martsenko, Andre Negrao (International Draco Racing), Daniil Move (SMP Racing by Comtec), Jazeman Jaafar and Carlos Huertas (Carlin).

What they said

Kevin Magnussen: “It was a difficult race and I was under pressure from the cars behind me for a long time. The safety car stayed out for a long time too and I had to remain focused. Maybe Antonio was faster than me but I managed to keep my head. It was important to win today and obviously I’m very pleased with the result.”

Antonio Felix da Costa: “The first lap was a real test for me. I made two mistakes and then I had to give everything to stay in touch. We had some really good pace thanks to the team and I’m grateful to them. I just couldn’t quite pull off the win, though.”

Nigel Melker: “I’m very happy at finally getting on the podium. The temperatures caught us out this morning though we managed to get things under control in time for the race. After starting from so far back I never thought I’d get up to fourth so quickly. Finishing on the podium, just behind Kevin and Antonio, is a fantastic result for us.”

If the timesheets in winter testing were anything to go by, the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title looked as if it would come down to a duel between Stoffel Vandoorne and Antonio Felix da Costa. Five races into the season, however, it is Kevin Magnussen who is dictating the pace.

There is a touch of Kimi Raikkonen about Kevin Magnussen, and not just because the Dane too has blond hair and steely blue eyes. Like the flying Finn, the 20-year-old Magnussen is a man of few words and as determined as they come, his burning ambition being to scale the heights and make it to F1, just like his father Jan, who appeared in 25 grands prix back in the 1990s. “He’s a typical Nordic type,” said DAMS General Manager Francois Sicard. “He might seem cool to begin with but he’s actually very warm and approachable. The main thing about him is his determination, though his team have managed to mellow him a little bit.”

After making his breakthrough in Formula Renault 2.0 and then F3, the Dane earned a place in the McLaren Young Driver Programme in 2010. In finishing seventh in last year’s Formula Renault 3.5 Series, he enjoyed a hugely productive weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, recording two pole positions and a race win. This season is one in which he was expected to fulfil his potential, and the Dane is doing just that. In among the points in each of this year’s five races, Magnussen has defied all predictions of a private battle between Vandoorne and Da Costa. “I don’t really read the press, so I don’t know what people have been saying,” commented the man himself. “I just focus on what I have to do. There are a lot of very good drivers in this championship and to win it you have to go out and score points every time
and win races whenever you get the chance to.”

“We weren’t absolutely relaxed but we weren’t worried either when we saw other drivers posting the fastest times this winter,” added Sicard. “The team and the drivers were just getting to know each other at first and then we started trying a lot of things out so we could get a better understanding of the car. There were times when we weren’t always heading in the right direction but we knew we would be competitive at the start of the season.”

After scoring two second places at Monza and a win at Motorland, Magnussen finished fourth at Monaco, successfully holding off a series of attacks by title rival Da Costa. “It was a good weekend in terms of the championship but there were three drivers who did better than me, so I can’t be entirely satisfied,” said the Dane, who is not about to start resting on his laurels. “I’m now going to get ready for Spa by spending as much time as I can with the team at Le Mans.”

Fresh from his maiden Formula Renault 3.5 Series win at Monaco last weekend, Nico Muller (International Draco Racing) stayed firmly in the limelight at Spa-Francorchamps, the Swiss racer posting the quickest time in the day’s collective testing ahead of Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham). Competing on home soil, Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) had gone fastest in the wet in the morning.

Despite the rain relenting for the day’s opening session, the Belgian track was still damp when the drivers emerged. Making light of the testing conditions, Kevin Magnussen set the benchmark time before Carlos Sainz Jr (Zeta Corse) came to a halt on the track, triggering the first interruption of the day.

The Dane, who leads the points, remained on top on the resumption. After Christopher Zanella (ISR) slid off, bringing a premature end to his session, Sergey Sirotkin (ISR) then moved out front only for Stoffel Vandoorne to edge ahead with a time of 2:19.894, the Belgian eventually ending the morning in front of the DAMS duo of Kevin Magnussen and Norman Nato. Carlos Huertas (Carlin) and Carlos Sainz Jr rounded off the top five in a session that ended early when Arthur Pic (AV Formula) went off.

The second session began in the same way as the first, as Kevin Magnussen shot into an early lead before Zoel Amberg (Pons Racing) encountered trouble at La Source and brought proceedings to a temporary halt. Carlos Sainz and Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) then made the most of improving conditions to post fastest times before Kevin Magnussen returned to the top of the pile once more.

Relegated to second place by his fellow countryman Marco Sorensen (Lotus), the Dane went quickest again in the final quarter of an hour, the prelude to a frenetic finale in which Nico Muller posted the day’s best time of 2:00.281, three hundredths faster than Kevin Magnussen. Finishing within the same tenth of a second were Antonio Felix da Costa, Stoffel Vandoorne and Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing).

What they said

Nico Müller: “The weather is always unpredictable at Spa. We drove in all conditions and we tried out the new tyres. We’ve still got some adjustments to make but it’s been a good day for us. We’re confident about tomorrow, though the weather is sure to play a big part.”

Kevin Magnussen: “I’m happy with the way testing went. The car seems to be running well, and with a few adjustments we should be able to get in the points tomorrow. Spa was a good meeting for me last year, but to be honest that counts for nothing today.”

Stoffel Vandoorne: “It’s been a good day despite the weather. Luckily, the rain stopped just before the session started and the track gradually dried out. We put the new tyres on and tested them out, and I found some pace straightaway despite the traffic. It’s always a bonus to race at home, though you’re always in demand and you have to make sure you maintain your focus.”

The Swiss driver rekindled his championship hopes with victor y at Monaco. Now third in the points, he knows he needs to go and do it all over again at Spa.

Which language do you prefer to speak?
Whichever you want. I speak German, French, Italian, English and Spanish. I studied at an international school and motorsport is a great way to improve in that area.

You received the Monaco winner’s trophy from Carlos Ghosn. That must have been a special moment.
It was a tough race to win. I know what it means to win here. When I was 10 I used to watch F1 on TV and I used to dream about it. It was a very special moment and I think it’s going to be even more special as time goes by.

Has this win given you fresh objectives for this season?
Monaco really is a circuit apart and we’ll be coming up against a totally different track next weekend. We’ll need to work hard to stay at the top, and I’ll be fighting for a place on the podium in every race. We’ll just need to see where we are at the end of the year.

After the season’s opening five races at Monza, Motorland Aragon and Monaco, Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) have broken away at the top of the standings, with the Dane 14 points ahead after taking fourth place at Monaco, where his title rival could only finish ninth.

Racing on home soil, Vandoorne will be keen to return to the top of the podium and cut the deficit. Blessed with the support of the RACB since the start of his career, the reigning Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion will not be lacking in motivation at a meeting where he will be the crowd favourite.

Third in the overall standings after his win in Monaco, Nico Muller (International Draco Racing) is now 30 points adrift of the leader and will be eyeing more success in Belgium as he looks to move into title contention.

Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham), Arthur Pic (AV Formula) and Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) also need to get in among the points and find some consistency if they are to close in on the leading duo, while Russia’s Sergey Sirotkin (ISR), the revelation of the Motorland Aragon meeting, also has designs on keeping pace with the leaders.

Both Formula Renault 3.5 Series races at Spa-Francorchamps will be broadcast pre-recorded on Sunday 2 June on Eurosport (at 8:30 and 22:30) and on Eurosport France (8:30 and 23:30).

Nico Müller (International Draco Racing) started on pole and produced the perfect drive on the streets of Monaco, winning the race and taking his maiden Formula Renault 3.5 Series victory. The Swiss finished ahead of Marco Sørensen (Lotus), who overtook Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin) at turn one. Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) finished fourth to retain the championship lead, with a 14-point advantage over Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports).

There were several famous faces present for the Formula Renault 3.5 Series race, the curtain-raiser for Monaco's 71st Formula One Grand Prix. In glorious sunshine, Jacky Ickx, Jean Alesi, Tom Kristensen, Jean Ragnotti and Paul Belmondo could all be seen on the grid, with the latter arriving in the Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB8.

Nico Müller started on pole and made a perfect getaway, while alongside him, Jazeman Jaafar had too much wheelspin and allowed Marco Sorensen to pass into second at Sainte-Dévote. Marlon Stockinger's race finished at turn one, with Sørensen's Lotus team-mate spinning after contact and becoming the first driver to retire.

Nico Müller led at the end of lap one, ahead of Marco Sørensen, Jazeman Jaafar, Carlos Sainz Jr. (Zeta Corse), Kevin Magnussen, Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham), Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing), Mikhail Aleshin (Tech 1 Racing), Stoffel Vandoorne and Arthur Pic (AV Formula). The first ten places, incidentally, were occupied by drivers from ten different teams.

With the race under control, Nico Müller and Marco Sorensen began to pull away from the rest of the field. Behind them was an extremely compact group, composed of Jaafar, Sainz, Magnussen and Da Costa. Further back, Christopher Zanella (ISR) narrowly avoided going off the track after clipping the barrier at the exit of the tunnel section. The Swiss then returned to the pits to change a rear wheel.

After ten laps, the front four were well separated from the chasing pack. Kevin Magnussen, however, remained under constant pressure from Antonio Félix da Costa.

The race order did not change again until lap 14, when Carlos Sainz Jr misjudged his braking at La Rascasse and allowed Kevin Magnussen and Antonio Félix da Costa to pass. Christopher Zanella then retired at the same spot after crashing out. But thanks to the efficiency of the Automobile Club de Monaco's race marshals, his car was removed without the need to bring out the safety car.
With two laps to go, Antonio Félix da Costa began to step up his assault on Kevin Magnussen's position. But the Dane, determined to score as many points as possible and maintain his championship lead, kept the door shut and held on to take the chequered flag in fourth.

Nico Müller: "I was in a position that allowed me to control the race. The car was very good and I would just like to thank the team for their hard work. I tried to gauge Marco's level of performance adapt my own pace accordingly. Winning in Monaco is obviously special, but it's only one race. We'll have to do it all over again at Spa."

Marco Sørensen: "I made a really good start and Jazeman tried to block me, but I was already there and he couldn't do anything about it. I then had to keep the car on the track and maintain pressure on the leader, but Nico isn't the kind of driver to make stupid mistakes."

Jazeman Jaafar: "My start was far from perfect – unlike Marco's, which was superb. I tried to hold him off but I slipped down into third. I then pushed hard to avoid the threat of Kevin Magnussen. This first podium finish is a good result for me."

Forty-eight hours after free practice, the Formula Renault 3.5 drivers were back on the streets of Monaco for qualifying. Nico Müller, who had a quiet practice session on Thursday, pulled off a surprise by claiming his first ever pole position in the category. The Swiss will share the front row of the grid with Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin).

As always at Monaco, the 26 drivers were split into two groups for qualifying. The fastest time overall would earn pole position, with the rest of drivers from the pole-sitter's group lining up directly behind him on the starting grid. The drivers from the other group, meanwhile, would start the race on the other side of the grid.

Kevin Magnussen (DAMS), the overall championship leader coming into this round, led Group A on to the track for the first 25-minute qualifying session. The session started with threatening skies overhead, but the sun was able to pierce the clouds and gradually warm up the track.

Conditions, however, remained difficult, as Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) proved by spinning at Rascasse. Jazeman Jaafar went quickest lap after lap, and set a benchmark time of 1:25.017 before returning to the pits for his second set of fresh tyres.

With only three minutes of the session remaining, Denmark's Kevin Magnussen launched his bid for the fastest time, and was the first driver to lap in under 1:25. Magnussen then improved once more, before Jaafar went fastest again with a lap of 1:23.648. Carlos Sainz Jr. came close to finishing the session fastest, but missed out after bouncing his car over the kerbs at the Piscine chicane. Jaafar held on to top the timesheets, with Norman Nato (DAMS) and Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) second and third respectively.

Shortly after, the Group B drivers made their way on to the track. Zoel Amberg (Pons Racing) went straight on at Rascasse and a few drivers locked up at the exit of the tunnel section, but there were otherwise no major incidents. After 10 minutes, Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) lapped in 1:24.514, and the Belgian stayed top of the timesheets until the final ten minutes.

Marco Sorensen (Lotus) was first to beat Jaafar's benchmark time, while Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham), another contender for pole, was thwarted on what should have been his fastest lap. At the chequered flag, Nico Müller (International Draco Racing) snatched pole position with a lap of 1:23.453. He finished ahead of Marco Sorensen, Stoffel Vandoorne – who will receive a five-place grid penalty – Antonio Félix da Costa and Mikhail Aleshin.

Nico Müller: "It's an amazing feeling to have taken my first Formula Renault 3.5 pole at Monaco! I wasn't very comfortable on Thursday, but we worked hard as a team to improve our performance. Here, you have to take all your risks on the final lap. It paid off for me and I'm very pleased. Part of the work is done, but the hardest part is still in front of us."

Jazeman Jaafar: "This result builds on our performance in free practice, where we worked very well as a team. I'm a bit disappointed that I'm only second, but the second group was always going to be quicker. It's my first drive at Monaco, but I love the circuit. I'm improving with every lap and it's very exciting."

Today's free practice session gave the Formula Renault 3.5 Series drivers their only track time before qualifying, and offered the chance for them to acquaint and reacquaint themselves with the Monaco street circuit. It was the championship's rookies who stole the spotlight once again, with Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) setting the best time before later receiving a five-place grid penalty for dangerous driving. Vandoorne's fellow newcomer, Norman Nato (DAMS), also impressed by finishing third fastest, behind Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham).

Monaco is no place for late risers – especially on the Thursday before a Formula One Grand Prix. The 45-minute free practice session got underway at 08.30 sharp, with all 26 of the FR 3.5 Series drivers eager to get out on the track. Some interesting pre-drive rituals were on display, with championship leader Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) arriving at 06.00 and kicking off his day with a jog through the streets of the principality. His team-mate Norman Nato, by contrast, took a more laid-back approach, turning up to the paddock just a few minutes before the start with a beaming smile on his face.

The moment their visors went down, however, the drivers' focus was set squarely on getting the most out of each and every lap. At the start of the session, every time was an improvement on the last. Competing this weekend in a one-off drive for Zeta Corse, Carlos Sainz Jr. enjoyed a prolonged stint at the top of the timesheets in the early stages. And apart from Mikhail Aleshin (Tech 1 Racing) going straight on at a corner, there were no major incidents before the cars returned to the pits.

Now on their second sets of fresh tyres, the drivers picked up the pace even further in the second half of the session. Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin) was the first to lap in under 1:26, before Britain's Nick Yelloly (Zeta Corse) – also making a one-off appearance – went a few thousandths quicker, a lap after cutting the chicane at the exit of the tunnel section.

Seven minutes from the end of the session, Stoffel Vandoorne made the most of a clear lap to record the best time of the session in 1:24.711. Mikhail Aleshin, who had been second until that point, then found himself leapfrogged by Antonio Felix da Costa and, later, Carlos Sainz Jr.

With three minutes remaining, Matias Laine (P1 by Strakka Racing) crashed at Sainte-Devote, with Zoel Amberg (Pons Racing), behind, also coming to a halt. A few moments later, Stoffel Vandoorne did not slow down sufficiently on his approach to the incident and also went off. This prompted the red flag and brought a definitive end to the session. And after an investigation by the stewards, Vandoorne received a five-place grid penalty for the start of the main race.

Stoffel Vandoorne: "I'm a bit disappointed after the accident at the end of the session. I didn't see the yellow flag and I was just as surprised as the driver in front of me. The most important thing, though, is that I set the fastest time. I thought it was going to be more difficult finish in front, as it was my first time on a street circuit. It's good for my confidence."

Antonio Felix da Costa: "Everything went well. It was important to put together as many laps as possible, even though the conditions weren't the same as they'll be on Saturday."

Norman Nato: "I was in awe of the circuit for the first few laps, but I managed to complete the programme set out by the team. We've prepared well for this meeting, working in the garage with the engineers and in the simulator. That's what allowed me to drive so naturally."

If there is one race a driver wants to win, it’s this one. An essential date on the Formula Renault 3.5 Series calendar since the category’s creation in 2005, Monaco is the one venue that has all drivers dreaming. Having already broken away at the top of the standings, Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) will be out to prove their worth to the Formula One elite. But for Arthur Pic (AV Formula), Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) and the rest of the field, the one-off race at Monaco represents an ideal opportunity to cut the gap before the series moves on to Spa-Francorchamps.

The eyes of racing fans across the world will once again be on the Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco this weekend. One of the greatest of all motorsport events, the race will be preceded by the latest round in the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, which occupies a deservedly high place on the weekend card. Won by Pastor Maldonado in 2006, Charles Pic in 2008 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2010 and 2011, the race around the streets of the principality could well reveal another future F1 star.

With four of the season’s races already run at Motorland Aragon and Monza, McLaren Young Driver Programme members Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne have pulled away at the top of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series standings, the Dane leading the Belgian by a mere four points. Both will no doubt be keen to impress their F1 backers over the next couple of days. And though Kevin Magnussen has the edge over his rival in terms of experience, he will be hoping to improve on his performance here last season, when he started on the second row only to retire early after hitting the guard rails at Sainte Devote.

Third overall, Arthur Pic lies 28 points behind Magnussen following his retirement in race two at Motorland, though that will not stop him from pushing hard again this weekend. With the support and shrewd racing brain of his brother Charles behind him, the AV Formula driver will aim to open his victory account at Monaco.
Regarded as a very warm favourite before the start of the season, Portugal’s Antonio Felix da Costa has endured two pointless races already and needs to stay out of trouble and score big soon to remain in title contention. Tucked in just behind him in the standings, the UK’s Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) and Russia’s Sergey Sirotkin (ISR) have the task of following up their excellent performances at Motorland Aragon.

In action here 12 months ago, Carlos Huertas (Carlin), Nico Muller (International Draco Racing) and Marco Sorensen (Lotus) return in the hope of drawing on their knowledge of the track, while Nigel Melker has the considerable resources of Tech 1 Racing – three-time winners at Monaco – to back up his challenge.
Meanwhile, 2011 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship runner-up Carlos Sainz Jr will be making his Formula Renault 3.5 Series debut, lining up with Mihai Marinescu for Zeta Corse.

The 26 FR 3.5s had the privilege of opening the meeting early on Thursday morning, when they ventured out for free practice. On a track offering little in the way of grip, the drivers’ first job was avoid making mistakes and getting as much data together as possible to allow their engineers to work on their set-ups for Saturday morning’s qualifying session. Tyre performance and grip will be difficult to gauge on the 3.34-kilometre track, especially if the weather proves unsettled, all of which makes Sunday’s race, which starts at 11.10, right before the 71st Formula One Grand Prix, a tough one to call.

Competing in his second season in discipline, Carlos Huertas (Carlin) secured his first Formula Renault 3.5 Series win in race two at Motorland Aragon. The Colombian mastered the wet conditions to top the podium from Sergey Sirotkin (ISR) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports), while Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) finished ninth and retains his lead in the championship.

Interrupted on several occasions, the morning’s qualification session took place in the rain and ended with Norman Nato (DAMS) grabbing his first Formula Renault 3.5 Series pole from Carlos Huertas and Sergey Sirotkin. Responsible for a red flag, Kevin Magnussen was relegated to last place on the grid after having his only time wiped out.

The rain continued to fall in the afternoon, prompting the race director to order a safety car start, though the cars of Arthur Pic (AV Formula) and Marlon Stockinger (Lotus) were left stranded on the grid, ruling them out of the race start proper, on lap three. Norman Nato promptly got his braking all wrong at turn one and went off. Though able to rejoin the race, albeit at the back of the field, the Frenchman was nonetheless handed a drive-through for dangerous driving.

Taking over at the front, Carlos Huertas began to set a fierce pace to leave his pursuers trailing, while both Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) and Kevin Magnussen launched impressive recovery drives behind him, the Dane working his way into the points as early as lap six.

Stoffel Vandoorne’s unsuccessful attack at the end of the pit straight allowed second-placed Sergey Sirotkin to increase his advantage over the Belgian, though the two would continue their dice all the way to the chequered flag. Christopher Zanella’s (ISR) race ended prematurely as he went off, before Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) nipped past Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) and into sixth on lap 13, with Marco Sorensen (Lotus) then stealing past Mikhail Aleshin (Tech 1 Racing) and moving into the points in tenth place.

Race leader Carlos Huertas made untroubled progress to take the flag from Sergey Sirotkin and Stoffel Vandoorne, with Will Stevens, Nico Muller, Nigel Melker, Antonio Felix da Costa and Andre Negrao behind them. Completing the top ten were the two Danes, Kevin Magnussen and Marco Sorensen, in that order.

What they said:

Carlos Huertas: “I had a good first lap, while Norman seemed to go wrong on the brakes. I almost went off too because it wasn’t easy to heat the brakes and the tyres up. Although there was a little bit of aquaplaning out there, I managed to open up a gap. The car was just perfect.”

Sergey Sirotkin: “It was a very good weekend for me. We had the potential to be on the front row but we missed out. The important thing, though, is that we managed to fulfil that potential by getting a good result in the race.”

Stoffel Vandoorne: “It wasn’t the greatest day for the team, though we still managed to pick up some points and cut the gap on Kevin. Being on the front row was vital if you were going to win here. Congratulations to Carlos for his first victory.”

Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) backed up his impressive start to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series season with a fine win in Saturday’s race at Motorland Aragon, the Dane taking maximum points ahead of Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) and Arthur Pic (AV Formula) to move to the top of the championship standings.

In a morning qualifying session held on a wet track, Kevin Magnussen recorded the fastest time to take pole for race one from Sergey Sirotkin (ISR) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham). The Portuguese driver was later demoted to the back of the grid after running out of fuel at end of the session.

The track had dried out by the time race start came around, polesitter Kevin Magnussen staying ahead of the field as the lights went out. Jumping up from row three to second place at the first turn was Arthur Pic, while Sergey Sirotkin, Christopher Zanella (ISR), Marco Sorensen (Lotus), Norman Nato (DAMS), Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports), Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) and Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) completed the top nine. From his back-row position Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) climbed up to 18th by the end of lap one.

Nico Muller (International Draco Racing) was the first to bear the consequences of some keenly contested exchanges in the bunch, the Swiss driver crashing out, while up ahead Kevin Magnussen quickly settled into a groove on the Spanish track, posting several fastest laps to take nearly a second a lap out of his closest pursuer Arthur Pic.

Among the leaders Stoffel Vandoorne, Marco Sorensen and Christopher Zanella all fell off the pace to allow Norman Nato to move into fourth and take the attack to Sergey Sirotkin in third. Nipping past the Russian into second, the Frenchman then had to contend with the charging Will Stevens, who found his way past Sergey Sirotkin and into third. Not to be denied, the Briton caught Arthur Pic and slipped past him and into second on the last lap.

In a class of his own, Magnussen took the chequered flag by some 20 seconds from Will Stevens and Arthur Pic, with the remaining points placings being taken by Sergey Sirotkin, Norman Nato, Nigel Melker, Christopher Zanella, Stoffel Vandoorne, Marco Sorensen and Mikhail Aleshin. After starting last Antonio Felix da Costa eventually finished 13th.

What they said:

Kevin Magnussen: “It’s only the start of the championship but it’s still important to go out and score big. I had a very good car today and I made sure I didn’t make any mistakes.”

Will Stevens: “I was disappointed with our results at Monza, and we needed to score points today. The car has a lot to offer in the way of performance, especially in the dry. I was able to attack throughout the race.”

Arthur Pic: “I’m very pleased for AV Formula, who were racing at home here. The stable did a lot of hard work this winter and we’ve made a lot of progress with the car’s race set-up. It’s a good result on a track that I’m especially fond of.”

Three weeks after the season’s first two races at Monza, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series field has reconvened at Motorland Aragon for the opening World Series by Renault meeting of the year. In Friday’s collective testing Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) outpaced the pack to post the fastest time of the day, with Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) behind him.

Friday’s testing was preceded by a rescheduled session on Thursday afternoon, during which Kevin Magnussen mastered a damp track to finish ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne, Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing), Marco Sorensen (Lotus) and Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing). Today’s two one-hour sessions gave the drivers further opportunities to fine-tune their set-ups for the weekend.

The morning’s light rain did not stop Formula Renault 3.5 Series points leader Stoffel Vandoorne from getting out on to the track first. As conditions improved, Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin), Matias Laine (P1 by Strakka Racing), Norman Nato (DAMS) and Kevin Magnussen all took turns at the head of the timesheets. 

It was not until the final ten minutes of the session that anyone came close to the Dane’s time, but when they did, the DAMS driver upped the pace to improve his fastest lap not once but twice and end the morning on top from Antonio Felix da Costa, Stoffel Vandoorne, Nico Muller (International Draco Racing), Sergey Soritkin (ISR) and Matias Laine.

By the afternoon the track had dried completely, allowing the drivers to put some laps together. A keenly contested session began with Stoffel Vandoorne setting the pace, only for Oliver Webb (Fortec Motorsports), Nico Muller, Will Stevens and Mattias Laine to all go quicker.

Kevin Magnussen waited a whole quarter of an hour before making his entrance, as did Marco Sorensen (Lotus). And when the final ten minutes came around, first Antonio Felix da Costa and then Kevin Magnussen improved their best times to occupy the day’s top two slots.

What they said

Kevin Magnussen: “We managed to work through our programme for the day. We had some good pace and we have to keep on working if we’re going to build on these performances tomorrow. We need to score big points. I can’t wait for the race to start.”

Antonio Felix da Costa: “You can only be satisfied when you get first place, though we were fast. It’s going to be a very tight weekend and we’ll need to keep an eye on the weather and see where we are on the start grid. It’s a track that everyone knows very well.”

Arthur Pic: “It’s a track that suited me last year, and I think it was a little bit different today. It was dirtier. I think we need to work on the set-up. I’m going to try and improve on my qualifying performance at Monza because it’s always nice to start in the top five. The team’s racing on home soil and I hope I can bring them their first trophy.”

You made your single-seater debut four years ago. Did you expect to make your way into the Formula Renault 3.5 Series so quickly?
Not really. The Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB) gave me the opportunity to compete in the F4 Eurocup 1.6 series and it was one I had to take. Everything happened very quickly after that. I remember watching the drivers at the time and hoping that one day I’d be in their place.

The RACB, the Autosport Academy, the FIA Institute and the McLaren Young Driver Programme have all helped you during the course of your career. What have you gained from their support?
They have all really helped me to succeed. The RACB was the first to give me a chance to try my hand in a single seater. They gave me financial support and without them I’d never have been able to drive single seaters. At the Autosport Academy I learned how to drive and set up a single seater and also how to work with the media. Things started to get more serious when I was selected for the FIA Young Driver Excellence Academy. We worked closely with experienced drivers like Alex Wurz and Robert Reid, who taught us the little tricks of the trade. I joined the McLaren Young Driver Programme not so long ago and it’s given me a big push already. They take care of my physical preparation, and they’ve taught me how to improve in a technical sense and get the best out of a single seater.

You received €500,000 for winning the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title and to help you make the move up to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Has that financial support been important?
Yes, I really don’t think I’d have been able to drive this year without it. To be honest, though, I don’t think about it anymore and I feel relaxed. I need to make the most of the chance I’ve been given.

Though you were expected to be up there with the leaders, you stunned everyone with your performances at Monza. Did you expect to do so well?
I didn’t really expect to win my first race, but everything went perfectly for us and I had the pace I needed to go out and do it. I know the level of competition is very high, though, and I’ll need to give it everything I’ve got.

How are you going to approach the rest of the season?
I’m going to take each race as it comes and try to get the best possible result every time. I’ve got some good momentum going and I want it to continue.

Stoffel Vandoorne
Born on 26 May 1992 in Kortrijk, Belgium.
2008: Belgian Karting KF2 champion
2009: Runner-up KF2 Karting World Cup
2010: F4 Eurocup 1.6 champion
2011: Fifth in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
2012: Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion

The 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season began at the start of this month at Monza, where Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) won the opening two races of the campaign.

Much is expected of the Belgian and the Portuguese, though they are not the only men to keep an eye on as the championship unfolds. Victory might have eluded Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) in Italy, but the Dane did manage to pick up some vital points with two second places, while McLaren Young Driver Programme member Arthur Pic (AV Formula), Christopher Zanella (ISR), Oliver Webb (Fortec Motorsports), Norman Nato (DAMS) and Mihai Marinescu (Zeta Corse) all scored in both races at Monza.

For others, Motorland Aragon will provide an early chance to make up for a disappointing opening weekend. Former Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion Mikhail Aleshin (Tech 1 Racing) has a point to prove in Spain, as do Daniil Move, Lucas Foresti (SMP Racing by Comtec), Sergey Sirotkin (ISR), Nicolay Martsenko (Pons Racing), André Negrão (International Draco Racing), Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) and Marco Sørensen (Lotus).

The 26 drivers will get their first taste of the track in a three-hour collective testing session on Thursday afternoon.

An integral part of the World Series by Renault since its creation, Formula One demonstration drives will once again be on the schedule throughout 2013. Entertaining the fans at this season’s WSR meetings will be Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s team of drivers, who will be touring the tracks in the world championship-winning RB8.

Since the inception of the World Series by Renault in 2005 nearly five million fans have thrilled to the sound of the Renault Sport Formula One V8-powered cars. And just as they did last year, the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team will be sending out one of their cars at each meeting on the WSR calendar.

This year’s demo drives mark the return of some former pupils of the Renault Sport driver development programme. Respective Formula Renault 3.5 Series runners-up in 2010 and 2011 and now team-mates at Scuderia Toro Rosso, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne are just two of the Formula One drivers who will be back in the WSR paddock. Also joining in the fun will be Infiniti Red Bull Racing test and reserve driver Sebastien Buemi, a former competitor in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0.

Last but certainly not least, Formula One legend David Coulthard will also be showing off his skills in the WSR arena. A winner of 13 Grand Prix in all and the 2001 Formula One world championship runner-up, the Scotsman is excited at the prospect of taking part in the demo drives for the first time. During his stints with Williams and Red Bull, David Coulthard flew the Renault flag high, driving cars powered by the French manufacturer’s engines with typical élan.

As was the case last season, when Romain Grosjean and Alain Prost gave the fans at the Circuit Paul Ricard plenty to shout about, the World Series by Renault will also have a number of surprise appearances up its sleeve as the season unfolds.

The action starts at the opening WSR meeting of the year, to be held at Motorland Aragon on 27-28 April, when Daniel Ricciardo will have the honour of performing this season’s first demo drive.

António Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham) won the second race of the weekend at Monza to secure his fifth victory in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. The Portuguese finished ahead of Kevin Magnussen (Dams) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) at the end of a breathless race, one that hints at a hard-fought season ahead. Vandoorne leaves Italy with the championship lead, with Magnussen and da Costa second and third respectively.

It was a weekend of firsts at the Autodrome Nazionale Monza. After Stoffel Vandoorne stole the headlines yesterday, this morning it was António Félix da Costa's turn to claim his maiden FR 3.5 Series pole position, and the first for his team, Arden Caterham. Stoffel Vandoorne et Kevin Magnussen qualified behind the Portuguese in second and third respectively.

When the lights went out, António Félix da Costa hesitated slightly, allowing Belgium's Stoffel Vandoorne to pass and head into the first chicane as the race leader. But in trying to defend his position, Vandoorne cut the chicane and had to allow rival da Costa to retake the lead.

Behind the leaders, Kevin Magnussen fought to defend third place from Nico Müller (International Draco Racing). The Dane then pounced on a mistake by Vandoorne to move up into second, before taking the lead after da Costa went wide and brushed the grass.

At the end of lap two, 604 milliseconds was all that separated the front four. There was no let-up in the intensity until the chequered flag, and for 29 laps there was never more than one second between da Costa and Magnussen. Stoffel Vandoorne lost ground on the front pair and had to fend off Arthur Pic, who had worked his way up from 16th on the grid to finish fourth. Nico Müller (International Draco Racing), Norman Nato (Dams), Pietro Fantin (Arden Caterham), Christopher Zanella (ISR), Oliver Webb (Fortec Motorsports) and Mihai Marinescu (Zeta Corse) all finished in the top ten.

The result ensures that Stoffel Vandoorne retains the championship lead with 40 points, ahead of Kevin Magnussen, 36 points, and António Félix da Costa, 25.

What they said

António Félix da Costa: "We were all pushing it to the limit on the first two laps. After that, it was like driving 30 qualifying laps. I tried to preserve my tyres, but I had to push hard to stay ahead of Kevin [Magnussen]. I'm very pleased with this victory after the disappointment of yesterday's race."

Kevin Magnussen: "These two podium finishes relieve some pressure for the rest of the season. The first few kilometres were amazing! But unfortunately they didn't go in my favour. I had to put pressure on António [Félix da Costa], but I couldn't afford any mistakes because Stoffel [Vandoorne] would have pounced. I enjoyed this race hugely from start to finish."

Stoffel Vandoorne: "I made a mistake on turn one. It cost me dearly as I ended up losing contact with the leading pair. Still, this podium finish is a great follow-up to yesterday's victory, and I'm very happy to be at the top of the championship."

Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) enjoyed a dream start to life in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, taking pole position and cruising to victory in the first race of the new season. The young Belgian becomes the first FR 3.5 Series rookie in the competition's history claim pole and win a race at the first attempt. Kevin Magnussen (Dams) and Christopher Zanella (ISR) rounded off the top three, while Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham) left empty-handed after retiring half-way through the race.

The first qualifying sessions of the new season took place in the morning, setting the tone for what would be a thrilling day's racing. With the track part wet and part dry, the sessions provided an absorbing test of strategy. It was Stoffel Vandoorne who won the tactical battle, choosing the right tyres at the right time to claim the first pole position of the year. The Belgian, who won the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title last year, qualified ahead of fellow rookies Sergey Sirtokin (ISR) and Christopher Zanella. Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham) and Kevin Magnussen (Dams), both so impressive in collective testing, started in fourth and fifth respectively.

An hour before the first race of the year, the sun came out to cast some late doubt on the teams' tyre choice. It did not affect Stoffel Vandoorne, however, as he started well from pole and held his lead into the first chicane. Behind him, Sergey Sirotkin's hopes of a strong result were dealt a blow after he was caught up in a melee involving half a dozen drivers. With Vandoorne building a commanding lead, Nikolay Martsenko (Pons Racing) and Will Stevens (P1 Motorsport) battled it out for second before colliding at the first chicane and tumbling to the back of the field. Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham) took advantage and halved the gap on race leader Vandoorne, but was soon forced to retire after suffering a puncture.

That allowed Kevin Magnussen to move into second, but he was unable to catch Vandoorne, his McLaren Young Driver Programme colleague. The Dane did well to keep Christopher Zanella (ISR) and Oliver Webb (Fortec Motorsports) at bay until the finish, crossing the line in second with the pair hot on his trail. Arthur Pic made the strongest rise through the field, using his DRS wisely and overtaking well to storm from 22nd to sixth. Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin), Mihai Marinescu (Zeta Corse), Matias Laine (P1 Motorsport) and Norman Nato (Dams), meanwhile, finished in the top ten to secure their first points of the season.

What they said

Stoffel Vandoorne: "It wasn't an easy race, as I had a flat tyre on lap seven after one of my wheels locked. My head is still spinning! I built a big lead at the start, and from there I simply had to manage it."

Kevin Magnussen: "I made a good start and quickly rose through the field, thanks to the incident at turn one. Towards the end of the race I had a flat in one of my tyres. There was no room for error, as Christopher Zanella was piling pressure on me. So I'm very pleased with this result."

Christopher Zanella: "I fought well against Kevin Magnussen. I had a problem with my brakes and I couldn't get close enough to try to overtake him. Still, it's great to be on the podium after my first race."