In January 2024, Jenzer Motorsport announced that they had signed Matías Zagazeta, for the 2024 season. Despite the Peruvian’s less-than-impressive performances in the 2022 and 2023 Formula Regional European (FRECA) Championships, and the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship, Team Principal Andreas Jenzer expressed optimism over the partnership. He explained that Zagazeta’s passion and motivation during the 2023 F3 post-season testing and Macau Grand Prix had impressed the team. Jenzer added that the team hoped to achieve great results with Zagazeta in 2024.
“We are looking forward to continue working with Matias after getting to know him in testing and at Macau.”
“He is a great young racing driver with a big passion and strong motivation.”
“It takes a big heart to step up to the third highest level of motorsport, and we are happy that Matias will be at the steering wheel of one of our FIA F3 racing machines this season. Let’s get some great results together.”
Unfortunately, the partnership would prove to be a mostly disappointing one. Zagazeta suffered a difficult season, and though he made it onto the podium in Silverstone, he failed to score on any other occasion. The Jenzer Motorsport driver ultimately ended the season 25th in the driver’s standings with a mere eight points.
Zagazeta suffered difficult start to the season
Zagazeta’s 2024 F3 season got off to a terrible start when he qualified 20th during the opening round of the championship in Sakhir. This, unfortunately, would not be the worst part of his weekend, as in the sprint race, he collided with Van Amersfoort Racing’s Tommy Smith.
Though Smith was able to continue the race, Zagazeta could not. He retired on Lap 15, becoming the first retirement of the F3 season. As the Peruvian was found to have caused the collision with Smith, stewards handed him a five-place grid penalty for the Feature Race. This saw him start P25, and though he did manage a strong drive, he crossed the line 19th, more than 30 seconds behind winner Luke Browning. Zagazeta was subsequently classified P18 after a five-second time penalty saw Nikita Bedrin drop from P18 to P20. This, unfortunately, would be the first of many weekends without points for the Jenzer Motorsport driver.
Appendicitis ruled Zagazeta out of Monte Carlo round
After struggling in both Melbourne and Imola, Zagazeta was denied an opportunity to try his luck in Monaco. Ahead of the 2024 Monte Carlo F3 round, Jenzer Motorsport announced that appendicitis had ruled Zagazeta out of that weekend’s races. The team opted to replace him with GB3 driver James Hedley.
Hedley, unfortunately, suffered a disappointing weekend. He failed to set a time within the 107%-rule and though the stewards allowed him to race, he started both the sprint and feature races from the back of the grid. He finished the sprint race 20th of the 22 drivers who completed the race, and the feature race 22nd.
Though Zagazeta returned for the 2024 Barcelona F3 round, he again failed to score points in either the sprint or feature race. Austria was similarly disappointing.
Zagazeta enjoyed first glimpse of F3 glory in Silverstone
It was not until the sprint race at Silverstone that Zagazeta would have his first taste of points. The seventh round of the F3 championship got off to a better-than-usual start when he qualified P10. This earned him a start from P3, under reverse-grid conditions, for the sprint race and though he faced fierce competition and difficult weather conditions, he held on P3, earning his first F3 podium. These eight points, however, would be the only points that the Peruvian driver would score in 2024.
He returned to his less-than-impressive form from the feature race onward, with his next-highest finish, P14, not coming until the final round in Monza. Unfortunately, Monza was another disappointing weekend for the Peruvian driver. He failed to set a time within the 107%-rule, and though the stewards allowed him to race, he was required to start both from the back of the grid. He finished the sprint race P14 and failed to finish the feature race after being forced out due to a collision on Lap 2.
Zagazeta to race with DAMS Lucas Oil in 2025
Despite an unimpressive F3 rookie season in 2024, Zagazeta will have a chance to redeem himself in 2025. This time, however, he will race with DAMS Lucas Oil as Jenzer Motorsport will depart the championship to focus on their Formula 4 efforts.
However, despite Zagazeta’s many disappointments in 2024, DAMS Team Owner, Charles Pic hopes that the Peruvian will prove himself an asset to the team. The team especially hopes to rely on Zagazeta’s experience, as they will field two F3 newcomers – Nicola Lacorte and Christian Ho – alongside him.
“After the testing days in Spain earlier this month we’re thrilled to confirm Matías for the 2025 season. It was always important for us to have a driver with experience in the Championship.”
“We’re hopeful that Matías can provide us with a great insight along with our team’s proven methods that have served us well in recent years, helping us to start our F3 journey as best we can.”
