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F3 TITLE CONTENDERS BURIED IN QUALIFYING AT MONZA

Formula 3 title contenders buried in qualifying at Monza - Photo: Suttons

By Bruce Williams

Formula 3 title contenders buried in qualifying at Monza - Photo: Suttons

Formula 3 title contenders buried in qualifying at Monza – Photo: Suttons

Chaotic is the best word to describe Formula 3 qualifying at Monza in Italy last night, as no less than nine of the 30 drivers received post qualifying penalties for impeding other drivers.

By DAN McCARTHY

A hunt for a much-needed slipstream caused the order to be jumbled as many drivers were held up when trying to set a fastest lap, this resulted in multiple post qualifying investigations.

Australian Jenzer Motorsport driver Calan Williams excelled, after qualifying ninth he was promoted to fourth as five drivers ahead of him received penalties, the West Australian will be looking for his first points in the opening race today.

Australian championship contender Oscar Piastri was borked on his final qualifying attempt and received a three-place grid drop himself for holding up Jake Hughes. The Prema Racing driver will start from 15th as a result.

His teammate and championship rival Logan Sargeant qualified only 10th but due to the large mass of penalties will start the race from fifth on the grid.

Multiple time podium finisher Aussie Alex Peroni found himself towards the rear of the 30 car train in the final qualifying runs, the Campos Racing driver was held up as he attempted to thread his way through the pack.

Peroni qualified 14th but will start the race inside the top 10 in eighth position.

Jack Doohan, son of five-time 500cc Motorcycle World Champion Mick, had several off-track excursions early in the session, firstly at the Della Roggia chicane and then the legendary Parabolica.

At the end of the manic session New Zealander Liam Lawson took pole position after the first three cars in qualifying were handed five place grid penalties.

With half of the session remaining Lawson entered the circuit with a cooling fan still attached to the Hitech Grand Prix machine, the cooling device fell off exiting the first chicane before coming to rest on the racing line and causing a brief red flag.

Nevertheless he did not receive any post qualifying penalties and will start from pole position ahead of Matteo Nannini, Hughes, Williams and Sargeant.

Theo Pourchaire appeared top take his maiden pole by 0.451s from German Trident driver Lirim Zendeli and Alexander Smolyar but were all penalised.

Pourchaire will start the race from sixth ahead of Igor Fraga, Peroni, Frederik Vesti and David Beckmann who rounds out the top 10. Smolyar will start from 11th ahead of Zendeli

This evening’s race at Monza begins at 6.20pm live on Fox Sports 506.

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