F3: Santiago Ramos takes pole position at Imola

Rookie Santiago Ramos earned his maiden pole position in Formula 3, leading a Trident 1-2-3 on the team’s home soil. Team mates Leonardo Fornaroli and Sami Meguetounif followed closely in second and third respectively as all three put in their fastest laps in the final seconds.

The session had been dominated by PREMA Racing up to that point, with Gabriele Minì and then rookie team mate Arvid Lindblad taking turns in provisional pole.

That was up until the final flying laps as neither they nor teammate Dino Beganovic could find the time to retake the top spot when it counted.

Lindblad was the best-placed of the trio, with the Red Bull Junior Team driver fourth overall at the chequered flag. Newly minted McLaren Driver Development talent Alex Dunne went fifth on his final lap for MP Motorsport, with Beganovic following in sixth, one place ahead of Minì.

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Having been fastest in Free Practice and having held provisional pole earlier in the session, Campos Racing’s Oliver Goethe wound up eighth-fastest. ART Grand Prix rookie Laurens van Hoepen continued his impressive start to the 2024 season in P9.

Hitech Pulse-Eight and Williams Academy talent Luke Browning finished the session in 10th place, ahead of MP and Red Bull junior driver Tim Tramnitz. Van Amersfoort Racing’s Noel Leon rounded out the top 12 and will start Saturday’s Sprint Race from reverse grid pole.

For an in-depth report of the FIA Formula 3 qualifying session, visit the official championship website.