Three pole positions for Raffaele Marciello in the Eifel

For Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam), qualifying for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at the 3.629 kilometres long short circuit variant of the Nürburgring couldn’t have been better: the Italian, the leader in the drivers’ standings, claimed all three pole positions of the race weekend. In the first race, Alexander Sims (ThreeBond with T-Sport), one of two drivers to use a ThreeBond Nissan engine, will be starting next to him. In race two, Marciello will start alongside his main title rival Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport). In the third race, he is sharing the front row of the grid with Lucas Auer (Prema Powerteam).

Starting grid for race 1

Raffaele Marciello (1:22.821 minutes), who is supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy, ended up in front in first qualifying and thus will be allowed to start the first row from pole position. In a thrilling session, the Italian took the lead only a few minutes before the end. He briefly lost it again to Felix Rosenqvist (1:23.123 minutes), but then claimed it back and remained on top. In the final minute, Alexander Sims (1:23.100 minutes) moved up into second place between Marciello and Rosenqvist. Jordan King (Carlin, 1:23.191 minutes), the best-placed rookie in qualifying, also set his fastest time towards the end of the session and was happy with fourth place. Luis Felipe Derani (Fortec Motorsport, 1:23.216 minutes) and Lucas Auer (1:23.377 minutes) will be on the third row of the grid for the first race.

Starting grid for race 2

Italian Raffaele Marciello (1:23.039 minutes) also claimed pole position for the second race, because he was equally unbeatable in the ranking of the second-fastest laps in first qualifying. Felix Rosenqvist (1:23.207 minutes) claimed second place from Luis Felipe Derani (1:23.314 minutes), Alexander Sims (1:23.370 minutes), Jordan King (1:23.382 minutes) and Lucas Auer (1:23.406 minutes).

Starting grid for race 3

In second qualifying, decisive on the starting grid positions for the third race of the weekend, Raffaele Marciello (1:22.416 minutes) came out on top again. The Prema driver was 0.269 seconds faster than his team-mate Lucas Auer (1:22.685 minutes) in second place. Felix Rosenqvist (1:22.687 minutes) had to make do with third place, he just managed to keep Jordan King (1:22.775 minutes) at bay. Luis Felipe Derani (1:22.872 minutes) underlined his good shape with another top five result, followed by Alexander Sims (1:22.892 minutes) in sixth place.

Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam)

“The three pole positions here are important because overtaking at this track isn’t easy. Now, I only need a good start in each of the three races and then anything can happen. My car is fast and consistent over the entire race distance. In spite of the three fastest times, I am not thinking of the championship yet, I am rather working from one race to another. I want to try to score the maximum result from each of the three races and then the rest will come automatically.”

FIA Formula 3 European Championship