Tom Blomqvist put on a masterly display of driving, as he was fastest in the second qualifying session of the weekend at Hockenheim. Despite this however, the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin driver will not start either race two or race three from the front after incurring a ten-place grid-drop penalty for an engine change after race one. He will also get a penalty for race one in Pau next time out.
The two pole positions therefore switch to teenage sensation Max Verstappen, who will be hoping for better luck in the remaining races after a disappointing race one where he retired early. The Van Amersfoort Racing racer was second fastest ahead of Prema Powerteam’s Esteban Ocon, who will share the front row for race two on Sunday morning. Antonio Giovinazzi and Ed Jones will form row two, while Blomqvist will start down in eleventh.
Antonio Fuoco had a better second qualifying session and will start race two in fifth, ahead of Mücke Motorsport drivers Felix Rosenqvist and Lucas Auer, the winner of race one on Saturday. Felix Serralles of Team West-Tec F3, Nicholas Latifi of Prema, and Jake Dennis of Carlin complete the top ten ahead of the unfortunate Blomqvist.
Verstappen will also start on pole position for race three, as his second best time in the session was also good enough for P2 in the session and P1 on the grid with Blomqvist’s demotion. Ocon will again share the front row, with Giovinazzi and Rosenqvist on row two. Row three will be Fuoco and Jones, ahead of Auer, Dennis van de Laar of Prema, Dennis and Latifi, with Blomqvist once again in P11.
“That was the best qualifying I have ever driven in my career and I am very happy with it,” said Blomqvist afterwards. “I am almost lost for words. It wasn’t easy, because the team had to replace the engine before qualifying.”
Hockenheim Race 2 Qualifying Times (Top 10)
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1* | Tom Blomqvist | GBR | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:31.655 |
2 | Max Verstappen | NED | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:32.014 |
3 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Prema Powerteam | 1:32.044 |
4 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ITA | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:32.105 |
5 | Ed Jones | UAE | Carlin | 1:32.164 |
6 | Antonio Fuoco | ITA | Prema Powerteam | 1:32.208 |
7 | Felix Rosenqvist | SWE | Mücke Motorsport | 1:32.228 |
8 | Lucas Auer | AUT | Mücke Motorsport | 1:32.258 |
9 | Felix Serralles | PUE | Team West-Tec F3 | 1:32.278 |
10 | Nicholas Latifi | CAN | Prema Powerteam | 1:32.314 |
*Blomqvist will drop ten place for an engine change |
Hockenheim Race 3 Qualifying Times (Top 10)
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
1* | Tom Blomqvist | GBR | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:31.958 |
2 | Max Verstappen | NED | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:32.185 |
3 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Prema Powerteam | 1:32.242 |
4 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ITA | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | 1:32.251 |
5 | Felix Rosenqvist | SWE | Mücke Motorsport | 1:32.256 |
6 | Antonio Fuoco | ITA | Prema Powerteam | 1:32.257 |
7 | Ed Jones | UAE | Carlin | 1:32.304 |
8 | Lucas Auer | AUT | Mücke Motorsport | 1:32.382 |
9 | Dennis van de Laar | NED | Prema Powerteam | 1:32.501 |
10 | Jake Dennis | GBR | Carlin | 1:32.512 |
*Blomqvist will drop ten place for an engine change |