F3: Saucy on pole after Aron loses fastest lap in Spielberg

ART Grand Prix driver Gregoire Saucy claimed his first Formula 3 pole position in a busy qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring. PREMA Racing and Mercedes Junior Team driver Paul Aron had been set to start from the top spot but lost his provisional pole time for exceeding track limits.

Aron battled with PREMA team mate and Ferrari Academy Driver Dino Beganovic for the top spot for much of the session and looked like he had managed to win with his final flying lap. With the chequered flag waving, it appeared to be sealed until Aron was dropped down the timing screens to fourth, with several drivers penalised for various track limits violations.

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Instead, a maiden F3 pole went the way of Saucy, who set his best time late on, going second quickest in the final seconds of a busy session.

Aron’s demotion moved Beganovic onto the front row, with the Swedish driver missing out on pole by just 0.044s himself. Championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto also benefitted, moving up to third on the grid for the Feature Race.

Further back, Caio Collet ended fifth for Van Amersfoort Racing after another track limits deletion, this time for Nikita Bedrin, who fell from P5 to P22.

PREMA driver Zak O’Sullivan followed in sixth ahead of Williams Academy stablemate and MP Motorsport man Franco Colapinto. Oliver Goethe, Kaylen Frederick and Christian Mansell rounded out the top 10.

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Fernando Alonso protege and latest F3 Feature Race winner Josep Maria Marti will start the Sprint Race from reverse grid pole for Campos Racing.

For an in-depth report of the Formula 3 Spielberg Qualifying session, visit the official website.