Mercedes-backed George Russell has claimed his maiden GP3 pole position at the Red Bull Ring.
The British driver set a lap time of 1m19.114s to continue ART’s streak of qualifying domination to 10 rounds, a run that started at the same circuit in 2016.
Russell finished the session just 0.072s clear of team-mate and Renault academy racer Jack Aitken, while Dorian Boccolacci equalled his best performance in third.
His time was 0.073s adrift of Charles Leclerc’s qualifying lap record of 1m19.041s, marking the first year that times have not improved since GP3 first began racing at the track in 2014.
Arden duo Leonardo Pulcini and Steijn Schothorst completed the top-five.
Ferrari junior Giuliano Alesi, son of ex-F1 winner Jean, was sixth above his Trident colleague Ryan Tveter and ART’s Anthoine Hubert.
Red Bull’s Niko Kari was ninth at the team’s circuit, while championship leader and Honda protege Nirei Fukuzumi only finished 10th.
Haas development drivers Arjun Maini and Santino Ferrucci are set to start the feature race in 12th and 17th.Sauber’s Tatiana Calderon finished the session in 19
Sauber’s Tatiana Calderon finished the session in 19th, lapping just 0.758s adrift of the polesitter.
