2024 rookie report so far: Early contenders and points to improve

Four rounds down, six to go and FIA Formula 3 in 2024 is very much taking shape as the title battle in both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships aren’t the only prizes at stake.The class of 2024 features 17 rookies who are competing at this level for the first time in their careers. So far, it’s Arvid Lindblad of PREMA Racing who ranks the highest in the Standings, but who are the big standouts so far, and who will be targeting stronger results in upcoming races?Here’s a look at how our rookies have fared so far.Top of the classLindblad’s Sakhir Sprint Race victory was a statement, earning himself top honours at the first time of asking. It was a mature drive where he balanced aggression with tyre conservation, a rarity for many rookies who have raced in F3 since 2019. He followed that up with P2 in the Melbourne Sprint but is now targeting stronger Feature Race results moving forward.Currently, his P4 in Monte Carlo represents his best result on a Sunday and evidenced his growing momentum during the early phase of the year. With some quickfire rounds and familiar venues coming up, Lindblad looks set to continue his upward trajectory and establish himself as a top five contender in the Drivers’ Championship.READ MORE: Lindblad happy with building momentum after P4 Monte Carlo finishMP Motorsport’s Tim Tramnitz finds himself just one point behind his Red Bull junior stablemate, as he is currently seventh in the Standings on 43 points. The German is one of just three drivers who has stood on the podium more than twice so far in 2024, and he too is now looking to build on strong Sprint performances. Third in the opening Feature of the year is his high-water mark to aim for, but the speed appears to be there for Tramnitz already.Impressing early onThree podiums in 2024 for two rookies in Tramnitz and van HoepenBehind the top duo, there are several prospects who have made quite the impression early on. Heading the way and eighth in the Championship is Trident’s Sami Meguetounif, who earned his maiden Feature Race victory in Imola. He drove a measured race to hold onto the best of his tyres where others used up the peak grip of their Pirellis to capitalise and make the crucial moves he needed to win.READ MORE: Consistency now the goal for Meguetounif after ‘special’ first win in ImolaEight points back is the other rookie with three podiums alongside Tramnitz, in Laurens van Hoepen, who continues to pick up impressive results for ART Grand Prix. The Dutch driver has earned all his rostrum appearances in Sprints, but he will be hoping to transfer that form into the Feature Races.Peaks and valleysLeón earned his first podium at Imola and followed that up with fourth in Monte CarloElsewhere, there have been strong results but also moments to forget as with every rookie season, there is room for improvement. For Santiago Ramos, his Pole lap in Imola is undoubtedly his best moment so far. The Trident driver headed up a 1-2-3 for the team but was unable to capitalise on that in the Feature, falling to eighth by the end. Still, it was an experience that will put him in good stead going forward as he looks to better the P5 from the Sakhir Feature Race in upcoming Rounds in order to move up from 13th in the Standings.Likewise, Noel León has earned his best results in the most recent two rounds, securing P3 in the Imola Sprint before finishing fourth in the Monte Carlo Saturday event. His season appears to be on an upward trend, and Van Amersfoort Racing will be aiming to replicate last year’s mid-season boon of three podiums across Spielberg and Silverstone.READ MORE: Hitech have ‘taken a step forward’ in Barcelona testing says StenshorneFollowing in their trail is Martinius Stenshorne of Hitech Pulse-Eight, Charlie Wurz for Jenzer Motorsport and Rodin Motorsport’s Joseph Loake, 16th, 17th and 18th respectively. Each have enjoyed a strong showing in 2024 despite their positions in the Standings. The former was a Sprint Race victor in Melbourne, while Wurz pulled off several impressive overtakes en route to fifth in the Melbourne Feature. Loake, on the other hand, was in the points twice over in Monte Carlo on his first visit to the Principality.Outside of their best moments, there have been more tricky weekends but having shown their speed at various stages already in 2024, all three rookies will now have the confidence to push on over the course of the triple-header.Targeting moreReigning Italian F4 Champion Sztuka has been putting the pieces together in his rookie season so farFor the remaining rookies, there have also been good moments but those have come less frequently than they will have liked. Kacper Sztuka and Alex Dunne have Tramnitz to aim for, 19th and 20th currently but capable of more as they get their heads around the intricacies of F3.Max Esterson set the bar high in Round 1 with P6 in the Sprint Race, but he has not been able to replicate that result since then, though he has shown what he can do when he g