Macau F3 GP – Alex Lynn wins qualifying race

The start of the qualifying race for the Macau Grand Prix F3 2013 was given in front of packed stands and under omnipresent sunshine. On pole, Raffele Marciello (D88.com Prema Powerteam) missed the start, and fell back to fifth place. Finally, the quickest to take off was Alex Lynn (Theodore Racing by Prema). But the Briton, who almost let all his hopes of a good result disappear at the first corner, left the lead to the Swede Felix Rosenqvist (GR Asia with Mücke), second on the grid.

Tom Blomqvist (Fortec Motorsports), Harry Tincknell (Carlin) and Dennis van der Laar (Kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) having been forced to retire, the safety car entered the track, leading a peloton at the front of which Felix Rosenqvist was ahead of Alex Lynn , Lucas Auer, Antonio Felix da Costa (Carlin) and Raffaele Marciello.

From the restart, Felix Rosenqvist gave way to Alex Lynn, who dislodged him from his leadership seat. We will not see the Briton again... Winner, the latter knows however that everything still remains to be done: “Since we arrived here, my engineer keeps telling me that only Sunday's result counts, He says. Everything else is just steps. Yesterday was the first part, today we are taking a further step forward, but tomorrow we have to give everything. So yes, of course I'm happy to have won today, but we have to stay totally focused for tomorrow. The thing to remember is that we have a very good car, but I didn't come close to losing everything in Lisboa. I braked very late and had to widen my trajectory. Felix Rosenqvist logically took advantage of it, but at the restart I was able to take advantage of the slipstream to regain the lead. Tomorrow I start on pole and we have seen that first place is not necessarily the best here. We will have to fight. You don't decide to win Macau, Macau chooses you! »

Felix Rosenqvist knows that his chances of victory tomorrow are still real. And that's why the Swede wasn't too angry this afternoon when he got out of the car. ?My start was good, but like last year I no longer had any grip after the safety car period. Alex passed me and then managed to widen the gap. On the other hand, I came back at the end of the race, my car performing better and better. We must therefore learn lessons from this for tomorrow. Everything remains playable. »

Behind the two men, we finally found the pole sitter Raffaele Marciello, who managed to gain two places to climb into the top three. The Italian first overtook the Austrian Lucas Auer (who ended up in the rail), before doing the same on Antonio Felix da Costa, the outgoing winner. “I got off to a very bad start, admits, however, the FIA ​​F3 European champion. I ended up 5th? so I'm really happy to have moved up to 3rd place. The car performs very well, so I am confident for tomorrow. A good start and victory at the Macau Grand Prix is ​​within reach! »

The top five of the day is completed by Antonio Felix da Costa and Luis Felipe Derani (Fortec Motorsports). Followed by Alexander Sims (Three Bond with T-Sport), Jordan King (Carlin), Will Buller (Fortec Motosport), Carlos Sainz Jr. (Carlin) and a surprising Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam). Starting 15th, the Frenchman gained five places to finish in the top 10. A very good performance when we know that he is making his debut in Macau this weekend…and even in Formula 3!

Tomorrow, at 15:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. French time), it is the Briton Alex Lynn who will start on pole for the 60th Macau Grand Prix ahead of Felix Rosenqvist, Raffaele Marciello and Antonio Felix da Costa. So many beautiful people on the first two lines…