On his first outing at the 2.3 kilometres long Norisring, Marcus Armstrong (PREMA Theodore Racing, 0m52.529s) secured pole position right away. In qualifying group B, the New-Zealander, who is racing with an Italian licence, ended up ahead of Jehan Daruvala (Carlin, 0m52.624s) and Mick Schumacher (PREMA Theodore Racing, 0m52.629s), who were second and third respectively. In group A, Daniel Ticktum (Motopark, 0m54.553s) emerged as the fastest driver from Ralf Aron (PREMA Theodore Racing, 0m54.771s) and Jonathan Aberdein (Motopark, 0m54.828s). As Armstrong’s lap time was faster than Ticktum’s, also as a result of the drying track, the Prema driver will be starting the seventh race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season from first place on the grid.

Due to the relatively short track of the Norisring, FIA Formula 3 European Championship qualifying was held with two separate groups. In group A, Daniel Ticktum came out on top at a wet track. With five minutes remaining, he came to the fore, but had to hand his position to team-mate Jonathan Aberdein shortly after that. The Brit, however, countered successfully and then held on to his first place. Ralf Aron claimed second place in the final stages from Aberdein. Jüri Vips (Motopark, 0m54.866s) and Robert Shvartzman (PREMA Theodore Racing, 0m54.883s) rounded out the top five in group A.

Group B qualifying largely turned into a battle for first place between Guanyu Zhou (PREMA Theodore Racing, 0m52.886s), Jehan Daruvala, Ferdinand Habsburg (Carlin, 0m52.687s) and Mick Schumacher. Just before the end, however, Marcus Armstrong posted the fastest lap time at a track that dried out more and more and will thus be starting from pole position for tomorrow’s first race of the weekend. Behind Daruvala and Schumacher, Nikita Troitckii (Carlin, 0m52.676s) were next up in group B.

As they had ignored the red light in free practice, Ticktum and Artem Petrov (Van Amersfoort Racing, 0m52.933s) will each be dropped three positions on the grid. Schumacher and Habsburg made the same mistake in qualifying, so that they will also be dropped three places each.

Marcus Armstrong (PREMA Theodore Racing): “Having claimed pole position is a great feeling. The feeling is entirely different from the one I had after my maiden pole position in Formula 4 last year. Back then, it was a big surprise. Now, I have worked very hard for it and therefore I reckon that I have really deserved it. Moreover, my team was great and absolutely faultless. I am really delighted.”