PREMA Racing scores second place in Mugello qualifying
PREMA Racing scored a valuable second place in qualifying for the FIA Formula 3 Championship finale at Mugello. The tough Italian circuit saw the team’s drivers fight for pole from early in the running, as they took positions from third to fifth in an impossibly close first stint featuring five drivers in 0.099s.
In the second run, Sargeant improved up to P2 to complete a great work of damage limitation with the 3-spot penalty carried over from Monza. Frederik Vesti made the most of his 2019 experience at the venue, the European Formula Regional champion taking fourth place which will eventually become a third place on the grid for race 1.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri, who also has a carryover penalty, faced a tough day at Mugello. He took the checkered flag in P11, which will eventually become P16 on the grid.
#1 OSCAR PIASTRI
“We ended up eleventh and will be starting sixteenth. It’s far from ideal. We saw last week that anything is possible. I will keep my head up for tomorrow, trying to make the top-10 and to score big points on Sunday.”
Qualifying: P11
Fastest lap: 1:35.699
#2 FREDERIK VESTI
“The car was really good. In the first run, we were P3, one tenth off pole. In the second run, we were the first car to come out of the pits to have a clear track. Not ideal for top speed in turn 1, but it was good for the rest of the lap. I was completely clear. The first lap was decent but out of turn 5, I pushed too hard and went through the gravel, losing the lap and the peak performance of the tyres. It was very annoying but I did a good cooldown and went for a second push lap. We did a P4 which will put us in P3 for tomorrow in race 1. I’m happy. It could have been better and it’s a good starting point for tomorrow.”
Qualifying: P4
Fastest lap: 1:35.548
#3 LOGAN SARGEANT
“I’m really happy with the performance considering it is my first time at this track. I think we could have played it slightly better in the middle and we could probably have had a chance for pole. It is what it is though. Unfortunately, we have to start P5 due to our grid drop, but I don’t see any reason that we can’t go out and get to the front. We got to stay smart and move forward.”
Qualifying: P2
Fastest lap: 1:35.362
Source | Photo: PREMA Racing