Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam, 2:31.409 minutes) showed a convincing performance in qualifying at the rain-soaked Belgian Formula 1 circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. In a dominant way, he claimed pole position for the 19th race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season. On his fastest lap of the 7.004 kilometres long circuit in the Ardennes, the current leader in the points’ standings was 1.270 seconds faster than second-placed Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam, 2:32.679 minutes). The best-placed rookie, Ben Barnicoat (HitechGP, 2:32.823 minutes) ended up third from Nick Cassidy (Prema Powerteam, 2:32.910 minutes). In fifth place, rookie driver Harrison Newey (Van Amersfoort Racing, 2:32.986 minutes) scored his best FIA Formula 3 European Championship qualifying result to date. The son of Adrien Newey, who is Chief Technical Officer at the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, ranked ahead of George Russell (HitechGP, 2:33.055 minutes), who was sixth. 

Canadian Lance Stroll moved up to the top of the time sheets at an early stage in the session already. In the remainder of the 20 minutes, none of his rivals was able to mount a challenge. British driver Ben Barnicoat was second for a long time, but was then toppled by Maximilian Günther, currently second in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship points’ standings. Barnicoat eventually had to make do with third place.

Behind fourth-placed Nick Cassidy, Harrison Newey, George Russell, David Beckmann (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport, 2:33.096 minutes), Ralf Aron (Prema Powerteam, 2:33.375 minutes), Ryan Tveter (Carlin, 2:33.847 minutes), and Mikkel Jensen (kfzteile24Mücke Motorsport, 2:33.848 Minuten) followed in fifth to tenth place. Japanese driver Ukyo Sasahara (ThreeBond with T-Sport, 2:34.937 minutes), making his FIA Formula 3 European Championship debut at Spa-Francorchamps, concluded his first qualifying in the series in 18th place.

Lance Stroll (Prema Powerteam): “It was pretty wet out there on track. However, intensity of the rain varied from one part of the circuit to another, which made things even more difficult for us as the drivers. However, I felt very confident and was able to put in my maximum performance straight away. I am very happy with pole position, but a lot of things can happen in the race tomorrow.”