AUSSIES CAUGHT OUT IN F3 QUALIFYING AT SPA

Aussies caught out in F3 qualifying at Spa – Photo: Suttons

It was an unfortunate FIA Formula 3 Championship qualifying session for the leading Australians Oscar Piastri and Alex Peroni who were caught out by a red flag and rain.

By DAN McCARTHY

At the end of the 30-minute session at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, Prema Racing driver and championship contender Piastri was the highest placed Australian in eighth position.

Peroni was next best of the Australians, the Campos Racing driver will start this evening’s opening race from tenth position.

Due to the long straights at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit all drivers were looking to start their flying laps behind a pack of cars in order to pick up a sizable tow, but as nobody wanted to lead, severe traffic jams became apparent early in the session.

It was a very interrupted half hour session, before most drivers could complete their first flying lap the red flag was thrown as debutant Michael Belov crashed his Charouz machine into the wall at Pouhon.

When the session went back to green a majority of drivers set just one flying lap before the rain came tumbling down and meant that no driver could improve their time.

As most competitors only set one lap time the grid is quite shuffled and will make for an exciting race this afternoon.

Trident driver Lirim Zendeli earnt his maiden pole position from a pair of ART Grand Prix machines Theo Pourchaire and Alexander Smolyar.

Championship leader and teammate of Piastri, American Logan Sargeant will start from fourth ahead of David Beckmann, Richard Verschoor and Kiwi Liam Lawson.

Piastri who sits just a solitary point behind Sargeant in the title race starts eighth ahead of the third Prema Racing driver Frederik Vesti and Peroni rounding out the top 10.

Jack Doohan escaped the traffic early and found clear space to award himself with 13th position, while West Australian Calan Williams in a Jenzer will start from 21st position.

The first race of the Formula 3 weekend takes place this evening at 6.20pm AEST.

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