Rookie driver Esteban Ocon continues to collect pole positions

Once again, Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam, 1:35,585 minutes) prevailed in qualifying for the first race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at the 4.381 kilometres long Hungaroring. In the Budapest region, the Lotus F1 junior driver was 0.084 seconds faster than his rival Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:35.669 minutes) and already secured the sixth pole position in his debut season.

Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:35.881 minutes) claimed third place, Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam, 1:36.063 minutes) secured fourth position on the grid. The two team-mates Lucas Auer (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport, 1:36.196 minutes) and Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport, 1:36.218 minutes) will be starting the tenth race of the season from the third row on the grid.

Esteban Ocon only showed up on top of the time sheets towards the halfway point of the 20 minutes’ qualifying session. The rookie driver first toppled Max Verstappen, but was then outpaced by Tom Blomqvist. Ocon’s successful counter-attack brought the the FIA Formula 3 European Championship points’ leader back into the lead. In the remainder of the session he extended his margin, until Tom Blomqvist came ever closer to Ocon’s fastest time. Eventually, the son of world rally champion Stig Blomqvist was only just beaten by Ocon.

Max Verstappen and Antonio Fuoco also were in contention in the battle for pole position and will be starting from second row on the grid for the first race of the weekend. Stalwarts Lucas Auer and Felix Rosenqvist will build the third row on the grid while two other experienced drivers, Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:36.332 minutes) and Jordan King (Carlin, 1:36.347 minutes) will line up on the fourth row. Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:36.380 minutes) and Félix Serrallés (Team West-Tec F3, 1:36.586 minutes) round out the top ten. For US driver Menezes, ninth place was his best FIA Formula 3 European Championship qualifying result.

Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam): “I like the track, it is one of my favourite circuits. I already knew the Hungaroring from two race meetings in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. Back then, we both had races on a dry track and in the wet. However, driving a fast lap here isn’t easy, because you also have to look after the tyres all the time. Still, I reckon that we did pretty well in this qualifying session.”

FIA F3