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F3 - 17th season pole for Formula 3 European Champion Rosenqvist

16.10.15
With temperatures just below 8 degrees, the young FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers battled for the 31st pole position of the season at the 4.574 kilometres long Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg
F3 Hockenheim 2015 - Qualifying Race 1

Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam, 1:31.771 minutes), who has already secured the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title, decided the battle in his favour and thus ended up as the fastest driver in qualifying for the 17th time this year. Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam, 1:32.119 minutes) claimed second place in his first outing for the Prema Powerteam from his new team-mates Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam, 1:32.125 minutes) and Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam, 1:32.158 minutes). 

Thus, Jake Dennis is the best-placed driver from the trio that is still in contention for second place in the drivers’ standings. However, 29.5 points down, the Brit also has to make up the biggest gap to second place. This currently is in the hands of Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:32.489 minutes), who ended up ninth in qualifying. Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:32.330 minutes), the best rookie of the season and also still in contention for the runner-up spot in the drivers’ standings, was classified in seventh place in qualifying.

With fifth place, Alexander Sims (HitechGP, 1:32.172 minutes) achieved the best-ever result for his team Hitech GP in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. The experienced Brit ended up ahead of rookie driver Mikkel Jensen (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport, 1:32.325 minutes), followed by Charles Leclerc, Markus Pommer (Motopark, 1:32.417 minutes), Antonio Giovinazzi and Alexander Albon (Signature, 1:32.560 minutes). At Hockenheim, the Thai intends to claim second place in the final rookie standings, but has to deal with two strong rivals, Lance Stroll and George Russell (Carlin, 1:32.585 minutes). Canadian Stroll will start the 31st race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season from third place on the grid, British driver Russell will start from eleventh place.

The two novices Tanart Sathienthirakul (Motopark, 1:34.044 minutes) and Marvin Dienst (ArtLine Engineering, 1:34.513 minutes) claimed 29th and 32nd place respectively in their first-ever FIA Formula 3 European Championship qualifying.

Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam): “Qualifying was quite good. We as the four Prema drivers went out onto the track at the same time, but unfortunately, we had a problem with too much traffic towards the halfway point of the session. Eventually, I ended up between my team-mates and I didn’t want to get in their way. And the rule that it is forbidden to slow down in order to create a gap to the driver in front made things even more complicated. But anyway, my car handled well and the performance was really good. I will be taking things easily this weekend and try to help my team-mates. In first qualifying, that was at least enough to be on pole position…”