PREMA Racing has challenging qualifying in 2022 FIA F3 opener
It wasn’t the easiest day for PREMA Racing in the opening round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship, as the series lined up for the first event of 2022 in Bahrain. Lining-up for qualifying at Al Sakhir after a solid practice, qualifying was less lucky. After posting a good opening lap, American Jak Crawford was hampered by an engine issue that forced him to be content with P21.
Making his first start in the series from F4, Ollie Bearman delivered a brilliant performance to claim the 11th position. Not only did the British racer barely miss the top-10, but he also secured a front-row position for race 1 tomorrow.
Arthur Leclerc had a troubled run in P14. He will try to maximize his results in the two races to be held this weekend.
#4 ARTHUR LECLERC
“Not the best qualifying for the team. We have been missing a bit of pace in every sector, mainly sector 1 where we struggled with top speed and we have to solve a small issue as well. However, we will work hard to come back stronger and for sure we look quicker in terms of race pace, so there will be time to recover.”
Qualifying: P14
Fastest lap: 1:46.961
#5 JAK CRAWFORD
“In free practice started good, the pace seemed quite OK, the second time I didn’t put everything together. In qualifying we did alright in the first run, I think I was seventh, but then we had an engine issue for the second run and I also got my lap time deleted. The issue held us back quite a lot but I will do my best to make up for the positions lost tomorrow.”
Qualifying: P21
Fastest lap: 1’47″371
#6 OLIVER BEARMAN
“Free practice went quite well, I just worked on the things I needed to from the test and I think we were in quite a good spot. Qualifying was a bit more difficult. We just lacked pace, we need to look into it and see why. The only good takeaway is that I’ll start from the front row tomorrow and I’m looking forward to that for my first race but we have to find some qualy performance.”
Qualifying: P11
Fastest lap: 1’46″843
Source | Photo: PREMA Racing