“FR 3.5: Sainz on pole for Monza race 2”

© FLORENT GOODEN/ DPPI
© FLORENT GOODEN/ DPPI

DAMS’ Carlos Sainz Jr secured his second Formula Renault 3.5 Series pole position in as many races at Monza this morning.

On a cool and overcast morning, it was an impressive effort of 1:32.684s that gave the Red Bull junior pilot a seven-tenths advantage over his Lotus rival Marlon Stockinger, while Mercedes driver Jazeman Jaafar assumed 3rd spot.

Sainz Jr led for a portion of the session, but it was Fortec man Sergey Sirotkin who topped the sheets at the end of the first stint, with an early lap at 1:34.569s.

That was quickly beaten by Sainz Jr, before Sirotkin dismantled the 1’34s barrier by half-a-second. With rubber laid down and tyres coming up to temperature, more drivers entered the 1’33s bracket, only for Sainz Jr to smash that by a huge margin.

The battle behind was closely fought, but it was clear that Sainz Jr’s lap was untouchable. As the clock counted down, Jaafar headed Will Buller (Arden) in 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, only for Stockinger to jump both in the dying moments.
Draco Racing’s Pietro Fantin and Sirotkin secured the third row ahead of a trio of rookies containing Roberto Merhi (7th, Zeta Corse), Luca Ghiotto (8th, Draco) and Pierre Gasly (9th, Arden).

Marco Sorensen (Tech 1) had qualified 16th, but will start last following the application of a five-place penalty from race one.

Pos  Driver               Team     Time       Gap
 1.  Carlos Sainz Jr.     DAMS     1m32.684s
 2.  Marlon Stockinger    Lotus    1m33.410s  +0.726s
 3.  Jazeman Jaafar       ISR      1m33.557s  +0.873s
 4.  Will Buller          Arden    1m33.574s  +0.890s
 5.  Pietro Fantin        Draco    1m33.619s  +0.935s
 6.  Sergey Sirotkin      Fortec   1m33.620s  +0.936s
 7.  Roberto Merhi        Zeta     1m33.649s  +0.965s
 8.  Luca Ghiotto         Draco    1m33.747s  +1.063s
 9.  Pierre Gasly         Arden    1m33.765s  +1.081s
10.  Matias Laine         Strakka  1m33.839s  +1.155s
11.  Zoel Amberg          AVF      1m33.903s  +1.219s
12.  Nikolay Martsenko    Comtec   1m33.943s  +1.259s
13.  Norman Nato          DAMS     1m34.062s  +1.378s
14.  Will Stevens         Strakka  1m34.145s  +1.461s
15.  Oliver Rowland       Fortec   1m34.217s  +1.533s
16.  Beitske Visser       AVF      1m34.564s  +1.880s
17.  Meindert van Buuren  Pons     1m34.665s  +1.981s
18.  Roman Mavlanov       Zeta     1m34.708s  +2.024s
19.  Oliver Webb          Pons     1m34.714s  +2.030s
20.  Matthieu Vaxiviere   Lotus    1m34.725s  +2.041s
21.  Marco Sorensen       Tech 1   1m34.489s  +1.805s*

Notes:
Penalties

Marco Sorensen; five-place penalty for race one accident with Jazeman Jaafar.

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