Giovinazzi takes commanding win in Norisring finale

The Italian made a blistering start from third on the grid to lead at the start, and controlled three safety car restarts to perfection to record his third victory of the season and boost his title bid.

A three way battle for second was resolved in favour of George Russell, who held off the attacks of poleman Alex Albon and Charles Leclerc for much of the latter portion of race, the trio split by just six tenths at the line with Giovinazzi 1.3s up the road.

At the first restart after the safety car was brought out when Sam MacLeod collecting Matt Solomon’s stalled car on the grid, Leclerc ran wide at the first hairpin, dropping him from third to fifth behind Giovinazzi, Russell, Albon and Jake Dennis.

The Brit then began a steady descent through the field as he struggled for grip, Leclerc going around the outside at the first hairpin after the second safety car period, caused by Gustavo Menezes clattering into Sergio Sette Camara and race two victor Maximilian Gunther at the same corner.

Dorian Boccolacci then shoved wide Dennis in an audacious move at the first corner to move into fifth, although the Frenchman then became embroiled in a battle with Mucke teammates Santino Ferrucci and Mikkel Jensen in the latter stages.

After the third and final safety car period, the result of a clash between Nabil Jeffri and Matt Rao at turn 1, Jensen was able to battle his way up to fifth, where he would remain, as Boccolacci slipped behind Ferrucci and Callum Ilott when he was ran wide by the American at the Esses.

Alessio Lorandi and Brandon Maisano completed the scorers, Dennis sinking to P11 in the final reckoning, while Felix Rosenqvist could do no better than 13th after a poor start from his P8 grid slot.

Race results: