Mücke Motorsport’s Felix Rosenqvist secured double pole for the FIA European Formula 3 Championship finale at the Hockenheimring this afternoon.
The Swede pipped series leader Prema Powerteam’s Daniel Juncadella to the peak, while Pascal Wehrlein (also Mücke) and Alex Lynn (Fortec) trailed on the second row.
Rosenqvist was a prominent figure throughout qualifying, from setting the fastest time on his first initial run (1:34.730) to bringing that down to 1:34.047 as the clock counted down.
It left Rosenqvist with just under our-tenths of an advantage as the chequered waved in the stilled air.
“The Valencia weekend was really good and here, I had a good feeling with my car as well. I wanted the two pole positions and that is what I got. In tomorrow’s race, one needs a good start and I have to try to maintain the lead on the opening lap. I hope for a win.”
Behind Rosenqvist, the order altered on an almost minute-by-minute basis, as Juncadella, Wehrlein and Lynn battled with Raffaele Marciello, Carlos Sainz Jr and Tom Blomqvist for the second front row spot.
Despite cutting a fast mid-session run short, Juncadella charged to the second position early on; a trick he repeated several times during qualifying as the track picked up pace.
“Qualifying was good, but I am a little bit surprised to be that much down on Felix. However, I am fastest of my team and I am happy with second place. With the second set of tyres, I only had two clear laps, which were, in fact, quite good. In the first race tomorrow, my only goal will be to finish ahead of my title rivals and thus wrap up the title.”
Wehrlein jumped up to 3rd late on, before breaking his front wing over the Hockenheimring’s jagged sausage kerbs in the final minutes.
Lynn crept into the fight as the session drew to a close, but the Fortec runner could do no better than 4th overall. Sainz Jr and Lucas Auer filled out the third row, ahead of Blomqvist (7th) and Marciello (8th).
Rosenqvist garnered pole for the opening weekend’s race, when his second-fastest time was also four-tenths clear of the next fastest Juncadella.
Wehrlein and Marciello fill out the second row, ahead of Sainz Jr and Auer, while Emil Bernstorff climbed up to 7th position. Lynn will start 8th, after pipping Blomqvist and Felix Serrralles.
2012 FIA European Formula 3 Championship (Rd 10, Qualifying Race 1) Pos Driver Team Time / Gap 1. Felix Rosenqvist Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes 1:34.062 2. Daniel Juncadella Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +0.390 3. Pascal Wehrlein Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes +0.592 4. Raffaele Marciello Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +0.715 5. Carlos Sainz Jr Carlin-Volkswagen +0.736 6. Lucas Auer van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +0.776 7. Emil Bernstorff ma-con-Volkswagen +0.779 8. Alex Lynn Fortec-Mercedes +0.797 9. Tom Blomqvist ma-con-Volkswagen +0.892 10. Felix Serralles Fortec-Mercedes +0.973 11. William Buller Carlin-Volkswagen +1.035 12. Sven Muller Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +1.132 13. Felipe Nasr Carlin-Volkswagen +1.149 14. Pipo Derani Fortec-Mercedes +1.276 15. Michael Lewis Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +1.334 16. Lucas Wolf URD Rennsport-Mercedes +1.461 17. Dennis van der Laar van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +1.660 18. Luis Sá Silva Angola Racing-Mercedes +2.003 19. Sandro Zeller Jo Zeller-Mercedes +2.066 20. Andrea Roda Jo Zeller-Mercedes +2.109
2012 FIA European Formula 3 Championship (Rd 10, Qualifying Race 3) Pos Driver Team Time / Gap 1. Felix Rosenqvist Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes 1:34.047 2. Daniel Juncadella Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +0.378 3. Pascal Wehrlein Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes +0.424 4. Alex Lynn Fortec-Mercedes +0.504 5. Carlos Sainz Jr Carlin-Volkswagen +0.537 6. Lucas Auer van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +0.653 7. Tom Blomqvist ma-con-Volkswagen +0.697 8. Raffaele Marciello Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +0.719 9. William Buller Carlin-Volkswagen +0.764 10. Emil Bernstorff ma-con-Volkswagen +0.768 11. Felix Serralles Fortec-Mercedes +0.824 12. Sven Muller Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +0.914 13. Lucas Wolf URD Rennsport-Mercedes +1.043 14. Felipe Nasr Carlin-Volkswagen +1.121 15. Pipo Derani Fortec-Mercedes +1.163 16. Michael Lewis Prema Powerteam-Mercedes +1.182 17. Dennis van der Laar van Amersfoort-Volkswagen +1.504 18. Luis Sá Silva Angola Racing-Mercedes +1.991 19. Andrea Roda Jo Zeller-Mercedes +1.994 20. Sandro Zeller Jo Zeller-Mercedes +2.004
