The first qualifying round of Formula 3 began as Hitech Pulse-Eight rookie Gabriele Mini claimed pole for the Feature Race.
The first qualifying session began as drivers had half an hour to prove their worth around the Sakhir desert. Track limits proved tricky as several drivers had their times deleted, including Trident driver Gabriel Bortoleto who went fastest during morning practice and was on provisional pole.
Vans Amersfoort Racings’ Caio Collet was momentarily on pole but ultimately finished in tenth with the track cooling. Bortoleto managed to recover to P2 after his lap deletion but was unable to beat Mini’s lap as the Italian had two purple sectors in the bag.
Purple sectors later flooded the track as the session came to a close with the PREMA boys, led by reigning Formula Regional European Champion Dino Beganovic, slotted into third, fourth, and fifth before track evolution demoted Beganovic to seventh, Paul Aron to eighth, and Zak O’Sullivan all the way down to 18th.
Testing starman Gregorie Saucy was able to retain his form as he finished in third, ahead of his ART teammate Kaylen Frederick. Newly signed Williams Academy driver Franco Colapinto will be starting the Sprint Race from pole after qualifying 12th – his second consecutive pole in Bahrain.
📻: "IT'S DONE MATE, IT'S DONE!"
A maiden pole position for @MiniGabriele to remember ✨
#BahrainGP #F3 pic.twitter.com/8nmAK72WwV— Formula 3 (@Formula3) March 3, 2023
Results (Feature Race):
- Gabriele Mini (Hitech Pulse-Eight)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Trident)
- Gregorie Saucy (ART Grand Prix)
- Oliver Goethe (Trident)
- Hugh Barter (Campos Racing)
- Kaylen Frederick (ART Grand Prix)
- Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident)
- Dino Beganovic (PREMA)
- Paul Aron (PREMA)
- Caio Collet (VAR)
- Pepe Marti (Campos Racing)
- Franco Colapinto (MP Motorsport)
The grid will be reversed for the Sprint Race. With the Saucy looking to bounce back from qualifying, mixed with his experience of the track last year. Mini and Bortoleto will be looking closely into their mirrors.
As proven in past races, Turn 1 will be chaotic as the drivers jostle for position.
