Ferrari junior Robert Shwartzman has been crowned as FIA Formula 3 champion with one race to spare after finishing second in Sochi on Saturday, falling to a late defeat to Prema teammate Marc♑us Armstrong.

Shwartzman took pole for the season fin🧜ale on Friday afternoon before losing the lead to Armstrong on the run to Turn 2, only for🎐 both drivers to come under pressure from Trident’s Niko Kari.

Shwartzman managed to move back into the lead after losing out to Kari on the Safety Car restart follow𝔍ing a crash for Leong Hon Chio, but had Armstrong filling up his mirrors heading ♛onto the final lap.

Armstrong dived down the inside of Shwartzman at Turn ⛄1 to seize the⛦ lead before defending through Turn 3, allowing him to take his third victory of the season.

But second place was enough🌌 for Shwartzman to wrap up the title as Jehan Daruvala – his sole remaining championship rival – could onlജy finish fifth.

The result marks Shwartzman’s first major title in single-seaters, having finished third in last year’s 🌸FIA European F3 series, and is set to lead to a move into Formula 2 for 2020.

Niko Kari sco🎀red his first podium finish since the opening round of the year in Spain, taking P3 for Trident after Juri Vips received a penalty that dropped him back to eighth. Leonardo Pulcini took fourth ahead of Daruvala, with Pedro Piquet and Ja𝄹ke Hughes following in sixth and seventh respectively.

Red Bull junior Vips will start Sunday’s final race of 💙the season from reverse grid pole.