As F3 qualifying began for the 2024 Spanish GP, all 30 drivers emerged from the pit lane under the blistering Spanish sun. Track temperatures were high, the tarmac biting into the tires and gusty winds around the open circuit.
The drivers must balance the benefit of a slipstream down the straights with avoiding the effects of dirty air throughout the corners.
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The Opening Minutes
Dino Beganovic placed himself sternly at the front of the pack, leading the warmup and taking advantage of an empty track and free air. He was first to bank a representative time, setting the benchmark at 1:29.9.
His PREMA teammates were quick to follow, besting the Swedish driver who eventually dropped to 15th after a run over the kerb in turn eight.
Luke Browning sits second in the championship but is yet to take pole position this season. The Hitech Pulse-Eight driver seemed happy running in the midpack, comfortable with his ability to build a gap and deliver when it mattered.
The times came thick and fast for the 30 drivers in the opening minutes, dropping rapidly as the tyres came to temp and the confidence started flowing.
Laurens Van Hoepen sat at the top of the table after the first runs, the ART driver quick to get to grips with the track and besting his peers in the opening battle.
They all filed into the pits with 20 minutes to go, new rubber being fitted and a chance to refocus on the goal ahead.
Second Runs
With data to reflect on, the drivers peeled back onto the track in another battle for track position in the warm up phase in preparation for their second runs.
Browning is the first heavy hitter to make his mark, pulling purple sectors and coming across the line to set a 1:28.888 to take top spot.
He remained unbeaten throughout the second runs, but the Campos driver of Mari Boya set a storming lap behind, separating the two by just 0.006s.
Beganovic has his second lap time of a 1:29.2 deleted for a track limits infringement, dropping him to 29th in the timings with a lot of work to go on his final laps.
The top five were split by less than a tenth of a second, each driver chasing pole position in the F3 Qualifying for the Spanish GP.
Final Runs
Beganovic opted for an alternate strategy for his final run, choosing to go it alone and avoid fighting for track position after his earlier mistake.
The field know the importance of track position, having learnt from their previous attempts, and get their elbows out to secure themselves the best chance.
Purple sectors were being traded up and down the field. Luke Browning was the first to set a competitive time, posting a 1:28.5 to stay P1.
However, his time was swiftly beaten by those behind as the young rookie Arvid Linblad provisionally took top spot with a 1:28.463.
In the final moments, Christian Mansell leaped to the front of the field to take his first pole position in F3 qualifying at the Spanish GP. The Aussie narrowly missed out on pole in the previous round and came to Spain with something to prove.
Mansell is the only driver in the top three not to be represented by an F1 academy – second place Linblad is a Red Bull Junior Driver and Nikola Tsolov took third place, backed by Alpine.
Looking further down the field, the more experienced PREMA drivers of Mini and Beganovic could only manage 15th and 16th between them. A disappointing afternoon for the Italian outfit on half of the garage whilst the young Lindblad shines at the front in F3 Qualifying for the 2024 Spanish GP.
Mansell says the Pole position is down to the effort of his team;
“As I was crossing the line, my eyes were just straight to the screen. And as soon as I saw it, it was such an amazing feeling, rewarding feeling. Like, you know, we’ve all put in so much work and to finally get a result that shows just how much effort we’re putting into this is such an awesome feeling.”
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Photo credit: Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images