As the sun set over the storied Italian venue, Hitech Grand Prix driver Vips took his first pole of the season with a 1m40.221s lap that put him 0.15s clear of nearest challenger Iwasa (DAMS).
Vips took an early lead with a 1m41.599s before a red flag halted running for 10 minutes after Campos Racing’s Olli Caldwell spun off exiting the Tamburello chicane.
Despite challenges from Jake Hughes (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Campos’ Ralph Boschung, who briefly took over the top spot with just under 10 minutes remaining, Vips managed to improve and ended the session on top for a first pole since Baku last year.
Behind rookie Iwasa, Jack Doohan will start third for Virtuosi, the Alpine junior having shot up from 21st with a brilliant last-minute flying lap.
Boschung was first to set a quick lap after the session was delayed by the late-running Formula 1 qualifying session, with a 1m45.248s.
Though MP Motorsport’s Clement Novalak soon demoted him, Boschung reclaimed the top spot until he was surpassed by Vips.
Hughes briefly held the top spot prior to the red flag, before Vips once again improved on his time.
ART Grand Prix driver Frederik Vesti made his first outing onto the track after the stoppage, having suffered an issue that left him stuck in the pits for much of the session. After reaching as high as seventh, the Mercedes junior was forced to settle for 16th at the flag.
Carlin’s Liam Lawson went third quickest at the halfway point, setting a 1m41.929s, while current championship leader and the man one place above the Kiwi in the standings Felipe Drugovich went fourth.
But the pair failed to keep up with the rest of the pack as the times tumbled and will start in 14th and 12th respectively. Hughes fared even worse and slipped back to 17th.
Theo Pourchaire and Marcus Armstrong were also running inside the top five in the closing stages before slipping back to seventh and ninth.
Boschung held on to take fourth place, with Prema Racing rookie Dennis Hauger…
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