Théo Pourchaire loses his pole at Monza

Short-lived joy for Theo Pourchaire in Italy. Author of pole position this Friday for the main FIA race F3 in Monza, the young Frenchman from ART Grand Prix is ​​unfortunately part of the contingent of drivers sanctioned at the end of the session by the race stewards.

Pourchaire, like his teammates Sebastián Fernández and Alex Smolyar, but also Pierre-Louis Chovet (Hitech GP), and the three Trident drivers Lirim Zendeli, Ollie Caldwell and David Beckmann were penalized five places on the grid for needlessly driving too slowly before turn 11 of the Parabolique during the qualifying session.

These drivers were undoubtedly trying to find the best position on the track to try to take advantage of good slipstream, a key element in establishing a fast lap in Italy. This slowdown forced other drivers to slow down, causing a “potentially dangerous situation” according to the commissioners. A scenario far from being a first in qualifying on the Lombard track.

This is without counting the additional penalties of Alex Smolyar (three places for driving too slowly at turn 2, forcing the entire peloton to slow down), Lirim Zendeli (five places for hindering Liam Lawson (Hitech GP)) and Prema drivers Oscar piastri and Frederik Vesti (three places for driving too slowly and hindering Jake Hughes (HWA)).

In fact, pole goes to Lawson ahead of Matteo Nannini (Jenzer Motorsport), when the second row will be shared between Jake Hughes and Calan Williams (Jenzer). Pourchaire will finally start 6th, when Smolyar and Zendeli fall back to 11th and 12th positions.

Piastri and Fernandez will start 15th and 16th, while Caldwell (20th) and Chovet, dead last, are even further behind.