Hadjar takes maiden pole in hectic Formula 3 qualifying at Spielberg · RaceFans

Isack Hadjar claimed pole in a hectic FIA Formula 3 qualifying session around the Red Bull Ring ended two minutes early by a red flag.

The Red Bull junior driver was one of only two drivers to break into the 1’19s, taking pole for Sunday’s feature race by two tenths of a second from Victor Martins.

Enzo Trulli set the first fast time of the session, a 1’22.730, before being beaten by William Alatolo on a 1’21.724 and then Roman Stanek taking another second out for a 1’20.182. Victor Martins dipped below 1’20 for the first time, with 22 minutes to go, on a 1’19.980.

Zdenek Chovanec was involved in a peculiar incident when he stopped at the bollard at the entrance to the pit lane, seemingly missing the entry but not quite crossing the white line before getting going again. Chovanec was placed under investigation, to be resolved after the session, for erratic driving.

At the halfway point in the 30 minute session, Martins’ time still stood at the top. Drivers pitted for final adjustments and the track fell relatively quiet until there were less than six minutes to go.

All cars seemed to go out virtually in formation, with several cases of two, three or even four cars driving alongside each other on their warm up lap. David Vidales was noted for erratic driving during the painfully crowded outlap to the line.

Isack Hadjar set provisional pole with a 1’19’966 with three and a half minutes left in the session, which he improved on his following lap to a 1’19.759.

Then, the red flag was called for Chovanec having stopped at the side of the track out of turn one after missing the turn. With two minutes to go, it was announced the session would not restart, ending qualifying and securing pole for Hitech driver Hadjar.

Martins took second place, with Oliver Bearman third but under investigation for an unsafe release from the pit lane hanging over him. Partially-reversed-grid pole for tomorrow’s sprint race goes to 12th placed Caio Collet, with Juan-Manuel Correa joining him on the front row.

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Formula 3 Austria qualifying results