The
notoriously changeable weather conditions at Spa-Francorchanps also
played an important role in FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship
qualifying: in the first qualifying session on a dry track, Esteban
Ocon, (Prema Powerteam) was fastest from Max Verstappen, (Van
Amersfoort Racing). Just before second qualifying, rain set in and
the session at the 7.004 kilometres long track turned into a
thrilling affair. Eventually, Gustavo Menezes, (Van Amersfoort
Racing) put everything on one card and claimed his maiden FIA Fórmula
3 European Championship pole position. Max Verstappen joined him on
the front row to complete the clean sweep for Van Amersfoort drivers.
In the ranking of the second-fastest laps, Esteban Ocon came out on
top again, followed by John Bryant-Meisner, (Fortec Motorsports), who
scored his best FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship qualifying
result to date.
Starting
grid race 1:
In first
qualifying, early on Friday afternoon, Max Verstappen, (2:10s110)
initially was on top, but Esteban Ocon, (2:10s049) outpaced him with
five minutes remaining. Ocon’s fastest time remained unbeaten until
the end of the 20 minutes’ session, so that the 17-year-old Lotus
F1 Junior driver scored his eighth pole position of the season. Max
Verstappen, who had dominated free practice earlier on, had to make
do with second place. Antonio Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam, 2:10s225) and
Lucas Auer, (Mücke Motorsport, 2:10s340) qualified on the second
grid row for the first race of the weekend, followed by Gustavo
Menezes, (2:10s572) and Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin,
2:10s601), who is second in the drivers’ standings.
Starting
grid race 2:
In second
qualifying, delayed by a few minutes due to rain setting in, the
drivers initially had to deal with a wet track. As the track dried
out more and more, the battle for pole position remained thrilling
until the final seconds. Eventually, Gustavo Menezes, (2:25s458)
emerged as the fastest driver and claimed his first-ever FIA Fórmula
3 European Championship pole position. The American was 1s158 seconds
faster than his team-mate Max Verstappen, (2:26s616). Thus, two
drivers of Dutch team, Van Amersfoort Racing, are locking out the
front row of the grid for the first time in FIA Fórmula 3 European
Championship history. Esteban Ocon, (2:27s380) was classified third
from John Bryant-Meisner, (2:27s647), Felix Serralles, (Team West-Tec
F3, 2:27s767) and Alexander Toril, (ThreeBond with T Sport,
2:28s456). For Spanish driver Toril, sixth place was his best
qualifying result of the season to date.
Starting
grid race 3:
In the
ranking of the second-fastest lap times, used to determine the
starting grid positions for the third race, Esteban Ocon, (2:27s897)
came out on top. John Bryant-Meisner, (2:28s320) ended up second,
allowing him to start from the front row of an FIA Formula 3 European
Championship race for the first time in his career. Felix Serralles,
(2:28s404) claimed third place from Felipe Guimarães, (Double R
Racing, 2:29s038), who never scored a better result in an FIA Fórmula
3 European Championship qualifying session. Max Verstappen (2:29s562)
and Gustavo Menezes, (2:29s710) followed in fifth and sixth place,
just ahead of seventh-placed Tatiana Calderón, (Jo Zeller Racing,
2:30s495). The only lady racer in the field scored her first-ever top
ten qualifying result at the demanding track in the Ardennes.
Esteban
Ocon, (Prema Powerteam): “First of all, I am happy with pole
position in first qualifying. In the second session, I started with
slicks, but I changed to rain tyres during the interruption and I
used them until the end. In my final lap, I almost got pole position
for the second race, but three cars got in my way. In the ranking of
the second-fastest lap, I am on top again, which means I am on pole
for the third race as well”.
Gustavo
Menezes, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “This qualifying was very intense
for me. Although it was raining and nearly everyone was driving with
rain tyres, I initially wanted to stay out on slicks. I only changed
to rain tyres towards the end, because it was too wet for slicks.
Only then, I was able to move up to the front and on my final lap, I
risked everything. I think we are in good shape and so far, we were
consistently among the front-runners. Now, a podium finish is my
goal, preferably in the middle”.
Photos: FIA 3 Euro Series
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