Top 3 within one second - Mortara in front

  Air temperature: 20.2 °C
Track temperature: 30.9 °C

Currently, Edoardo Mortara (Signature, 1:22.658 minutes) is the benchmark in the Formula 3 Euro Series. At the 3.629 kilometres long Nürburgring sprint circuit, the Italian set the fastest time in qualifying for the third time in a row. However, at 0.017 seconds, his margin over second-placed Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix, 1:22.675 minutes) was very small. Third-placed Laurens Vanthoor (Signature, 1:22.757 minutes) was only 0.099 seconds slower than Edoardo Mortara. On the starting grid for tomorrow, Bottas will drop ten places as the mandatory seal failed on the engine of his car.

Edoardo Mortara (I, Signature, Dallara F308 Volkswagen) Credit: Euro F3 Series

In the closing stages, Mortara battled for the lead with Valtteri Bottas and Marco Wittmann (Signature, 1:22.976 minutes) and came out on top with strong nerves, albeit quite closely. Wittmann, who is currently second in the drivers' standings, eventually had to make do with fifth place behind Mortara, Bottas, Vanthoor and Roberto Merhi (Mücke Motorsport, 1:22.887 minutes). The two series returnees, Mika Mäki (Motopark Academy, 1:23.989 minutes) and Christopher Zanella (Motopark Academy, 1:24.236 minutes) were classified 13th and 14th respectively.

Edoardo Mortara (Signature): "Qualifying was great, it was nearly perfect. I was on top both with my first and my second set of tyres. Especially at a circuit where we were never really good in the past, this pole position is a major success."

Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix): "Qualifying was incredibly close. Of course, I had hoped to be on pole, but Edoardo was slightly faster. Second place is not bad either, but with his fastest time, Edoardo again has one point more to his tally. My car was good and I think that I got the maximum out of it. For tomorrow, my goal is to win."

Laurens Vanthoor (Signature): "Finally, a good qualifying, after things didn't really go well after the season opener at Le Castellet. But the break after Norisring was really good for me. I was on holiday and I was able to relax a little bit. Apparently, that helped. Even though it wasn't enough to be on pole today, I am still on the right way."

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