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00:00:00МУЗЫКАЛЬНАЯ ЗАСТАВКА
00:00:40Two days of in-season testing around the new Mad Ring circuit.
00:00:44Certainly gave the F3 drivers a bit of a head start over the rest of the paddock,
00:00:50but just 45 minutes to get back up to speed with the circuit
00:00:53before coming into qualifying.
00:00:56Drivers pushing the limits, but overall throughout the most of it,
00:01:00it was a clean session.
00:01:01Van Amma Sport Racing looking very quick towards the front.
00:01:05Hightech would go quickest overall with Jin Nakamura.
00:01:09Taito Kato at the top of the session for the majority of it.
00:01:14He was second overall with Enzo Deligny third and Ugo Ugachuku fourth.
00:01:19So four different teams represented in the top four positions.
00:01:24And now we go into qualifying.
00:01:26It's going to be a little bit different for this season finale.
00:01:30Two qualifying sessions in total.
00:01:32We start with qualifying one, which will be 20 minutes.
00:01:36This will set the grid for both the races tomorrow,
00:01:39the sprint race and the feature race tomorrow.
00:01:42So the top 12 from this session will be reversed for the sprint race.
00:01:46And then we go into qualifying session two immediately after,
00:01:51which will set the grid for feature race two.
00:01:54My name, Chris McCarthy.
00:01:55Piers Pryor alongside me.
00:01:58Piers, this is going to be an exciting season finale.
00:02:0167 points available in total and just 15 between the top two
00:02:06in the championship.
00:02:07Ugachuku behind Slater.
00:02:08As if we didn't have enough coming into the final event of the season.
00:02:1215 points between the two drivers who have been the standouts of the season.
00:02:16We've then got the additional feature race.
00:02:18And we're at a brand new circuit to all of these competitors, teams, drivers.
00:02:24They have, as you mentioned, Chris, had the pre-season or in-season test here
00:02:28with two days of running.
00:02:30But circuit conditions have changed vastly since then.
00:02:32The circuit is evolving with every lap.
00:02:35It will have evolved a lot since they were out this morning.
00:02:37And that's one of the things I think these teams need to be on top of.
00:02:40Because if you just roll with your settings on the car that you had this morning,
00:02:43you're going to be behind.
00:02:45Absolutely.
00:02:45Now, if you weren't with us for practice,
00:02:47Riccardo Escotto has withdrawn from the weekend before the Friday practice.
00:02:55He was withdrawn on medical grounds.
00:02:57Giorgi is also withdrawn from the weekend.
00:02:59And we have a new driver to the grid, Niccolò Maccagnani, the young 16-year-old,
00:03:05having just turned 16, is going to be hopping in for Rodin Motorsport, replacing Christian Ho.
00:03:11We are just 50 seconds away from getting qualifying session one underway.
00:03:16Now, this is going to be a qualifying session where mistakes will be incredibly costly
00:03:22because you're not just ruining your races for the sprint race and feature race tomorrow,
00:03:26but also feature race two.
00:03:28Qualifying two, you will not be taking part in if you have a big accident.
00:03:31Yeah, the two at the top of the field on the left-hand side of your screen right now,
00:03:35Slater and Good Sugar, cannot afford an error in this first session.
00:03:40They need to be up there in the front, of course,
00:03:42because that will set the grid for both the sprint and the feature tomorrow.
00:03:45But also, as you've mentioned, Chris, issue, if you don't finish,
00:03:48don't get back to the pits for that first part of qualifying.
00:03:50They're not going to wait for you to go green for the second part,
00:03:52and therefore you will be starting at the back.
00:03:55This is a very unique thing for the FIA Formula 3 Championship,
00:04:00something that the drivers would have had experience in racing
00:04:03in other championships on their road to Formula 3,
00:04:07but now they're doing it on a Grand Prix weekend.
00:04:09Two qualifying sessions back-to-back and 67 points available,
00:04:13the most we've ever had on a race weekend in Formula 3.
00:04:17And we are green for qualifying session one, Chris.
00:04:19It's not a surprise to me that we're seeing pretty much everyone,
00:04:22in fact, maybe even everyone, go immediately.
00:04:25We've had many sessions this year and over the years of FIA F3
00:04:29where everyone sits around, looks at each other and goes,
00:04:31are you going to go? Are you going to go?
00:04:33We had some of that in Monza just last time out, didn't we, Chris?
00:04:36But this, with all 30 cars out on a new circuit, low-grit,
00:04:41the wall's close.
00:04:42Actually, that man has fought,
00:04:43deciding they're going to give themselves some space.
00:04:45But the chance of a red flag, the chance of someone going in the wall,
00:04:49the chance of sessions being interrupted here is very high indeed.
00:04:54So, basically, getting a banker lap in is going to be more crucial
00:04:57than potentially ever before.
00:04:59And this circuit is a real challenge for the drivers as well, Chris.
00:05:02And they've had a very long wait for this qualifying session as well.
00:05:05They were out for free practice at 9.55 local time.
00:05:09It is now 28 minutes past 6.
00:05:12So, a lot of time for the drivers to go over data
00:05:16and then get themselves prepared for qualifying one.
00:05:20How can that affect a driver over the course of a day?
00:05:23As if it's enough of a challenge already with a new circuit,
00:05:26you've had a long time in between our two sessions,
00:05:29so the circuit conditions would have changed.
00:05:30Earlier on, it was much cooler,
00:05:32and now the circuit conditions track temperature at 47 degrees.
00:05:35Well, let's hear what the championship leader, Freddie Slater,
00:05:38had to say coming into the weekend while we build up.
00:05:44I think it's been very exciting,
00:05:45but also I've just been focused on myself.
00:05:46I think you've seen that we've been executing really well as a team
00:05:49and putting ourselves in a good position in qualifying.
00:05:52We've had really consistent results.
00:05:53We've had, I think it's eight podiums now in eight weekends.
00:05:57So, for me, it's just about the consistency and executing
00:05:59and focusing on ourselves.
00:06:00I think that's what we've done a really good job at
00:06:02is just maximizing our own potential.
00:06:05I think a lot of the other drivers have seemed to be looking around,
00:06:08making a few mistakes,
00:06:09and that's what we need to avoid now going into the final race of the season.
00:06:14But, of course, it's been fun, you know, battling all the guys.
00:06:17It's always been close, especially with the championship like Formula 3.
00:06:20It's always going to be intense, but I knew it coming into the year.
00:06:22But, yeah, it's been an enjoyable one.
00:06:26Freddie Slater, eight podiums in eight rounds,
00:06:29including the feature race win he had at the Angara Ring.
00:06:31Only Rob Schwartzman and Dennis Hauger
00:06:33have had nine or more podiums in a single season in Formula 3 history.
00:06:38He's been very, very good all the way throughout the season, isn't he?
00:06:41Very consistent.
00:06:42Yeah, and you wouldn't bet against him getting another podium this weekend.
00:06:45He's got three opportunities to do so.
00:06:47He and Ugachuku, our two championship protagonists,
00:06:50were the two drivers that topped all of the sessions in our mid-season test.
00:06:54Ugachuku, two sessions.
00:06:55Slater, two sessions.
00:06:57So, that writes the story in itself.
00:06:59Not only have they been the strongest at our regular venues,
00:07:02but also you put them on a new circuit in difficult conditions
00:07:05and they thrive as well.
00:07:07But already we've got a lot of jockeying for position.
00:07:10And it's interesting how they are all so close together,
00:07:14apart from Van Amersfoort, who were out on their own at the back,
00:07:16because I think this is a circuit where it pays to have a bit of space around you.
00:07:20Once you go into that middle sector or the end of the first sector,
00:07:24five and six, you basically don't stop going corner, corner, corner, corner,
00:07:28corner until turn 21.
00:07:30A bit of contact there, I think it was that Canato Lee getting by Noah Stromstead.
00:07:36Now, 32 points between third and 13th place.
00:07:4011 drivers in that.
00:07:42Seven of those have had race wins.
00:07:44So, we have a very close fight for the championship lead,
00:07:47but there could be some big changes.
00:07:49Drivers from coming out of the top 10.
00:07:51Let's finish on the championship podium.
00:07:53What an exciting fight we have.
00:07:55We are just building up to the first flying laps in this first qualifying session.
00:08:01Let's hear what Ugo Ugachuku had to say about this majoring circuit coming in to the weekend.
00:08:12Yeah, it's a very poor track, in my opinion.
00:08:14It's challenging to get right, but it's very rewarding when you hook it up all together.
00:08:20So, quality, I think, will definitely be quite an important topic of the weekend.
00:08:25It doesn't look like there's many places where you can kind of come through.
00:08:29So, for sure, getting a good quality will be important and nailing that.
00:08:34And then, yeah, in the races, it's about kind of managing your position a little more.
00:08:38But, you know, we'll see.
00:08:39I think in the tests, we lift off in a good place.
00:08:42We'll see how the track evolves with a bit more grip.
00:08:45F1 going around as well.
00:08:47And, yeah, we'll just adapt as much as we can.
00:08:50They certainly will.
00:08:52And they're needing to find space.
00:08:54They're coming towards the end of the lap here, Fiers, and it looks busy out there.
00:08:56It looks very busy indeed.
00:08:58End of the second build lap.
00:09:00The hard compound white sidewall for a lead tyre this weekend.
00:09:04So, the drivers will have to get some temperature in that.
00:09:07Now, he did have contact, I think, with Canato Lee.
00:09:14And that's a spot from his teammate.
00:09:17But, first flying laps coming in, first driver over the line, Taito Kato.
00:09:21ART's Taito Kato was very quick in practice this morning.
00:09:24Full commitment over the kerb through turn number one.
00:09:27We head flat out now through turn four, which is basically just setting you up for, again,
00:09:31another high commitment, high kerb usage, 5-6 chicane.
00:09:34What will Kato do through here?
00:09:35Once again, absolutely launching his way over the kerbs.
00:09:39ART looking pretty compliant.
00:09:40Now he head very aggressively uphill.
00:09:42Bunker, blind entry.
00:09:44Purple for now, but that's because no one else has got a lap in.
00:09:46Will it stay purple?
00:09:47It may well do into the middle sector.
00:09:48Yeah, and Sector's coming in very quickly behind as well.
00:09:52But Taito Kato comfortably quicker than the rest.
00:09:56And now, round-land Monumenthal, Piers.
00:09:58Yeah, Monumenthal, amazing-looking corner.
00:10:01The drivers easily flat out in FIA Formula 3.
00:10:03You can see the smoke coming off the bottom of the car as it bottoms out there.
00:10:07Now, very tricky braking zone down towards turn 13.
00:10:10Arvid Lindblad went off there in Formula 1 just a few minutes ago.
00:10:13He manages to get through there cleanly.
00:10:15Kato still very quick in Sector 1.
00:10:18This could be an early-paced setting lap.
00:10:20And there's been a very good sector come in from Ugachuku as well,
00:10:23which you can see is on the bottom of screen.
00:10:25One of the quickest first sectors of the lap so far.
00:10:28But we're following Taito Kato,
00:10:30one of the quickest drivers in practice earlier.
00:10:33Now making his way up towards the final three corners on the lap.
00:10:38Braking zone down here can catch the drivers out quite easily.
00:10:41You can see the barrier just pokes out there.
00:10:43But Taito Kato carrying good speed there.
00:10:45Yeah, he's looking like he's leaving a little bit of margin as well.
00:10:48So as much as I say that as he gets so close to the wall out of turn 21.
00:10:52But Kato, a driver that's had success on street circuits before.
00:10:55A bit of a slide out the last corner.
00:10:57Goes provisionally top.
00:10:59Of course, he's first over the line.
00:11:00We keep an eye further back.
00:11:02Ugachuku was quick.
00:11:03Kato currently purple, purple, purple.
00:11:06Can anyone beat his last sector?
00:11:07There looked like there was a small error in the last corner.
00:11:09So doors ajar for someone else to pop in at the top.
00:11:12And it looks a good lap for Teofield Nihal as well.
00:11:15Let's see what Ugachuku can do.
00:11:16You can see Nihal behind him there following Ugachuku.
00:11:20Out of the final corner comes the American driver now.
00:11:23And down the start finish straight.
00:11:24And that's going to be P4 for him.
00:11:25And Teofield Nihal beating him to that fourth place.
00:11:28Let's have a look at Noah Stromstead then.
00:11:32Over the kerbs.
00:11:32That's at turn one, isn't it?
00:11:34And there you can see.
00:11:35That's DiPaolo that pointed that out, wasn't it?
00:11:37Yeah, it's great eyes from you, Chris, earlier on to see the contacts.
00:11:40And also DiPaolo to tell the team that's not going to help Stromstead at all.
00:11:44But Canato, sorry, not Canato, he had a good lap as well.
00:11:47He's actually in 11th place.
00:11:48But Teito Cato currently, Chris, is around.
00:11:52Ryan 10th clear.
00:11:54What a lap that was from Teito Cato.
00:11:57Look how close that was as well.
00:11:58Alex Powell there almost going into the barriers.
00:12:01The drivers aren't leaving anything out there, are they?
00:12:04As now the Van Ammer Sports, who were really quick in testing,
00:12:08have gone up into the top three places.
00:12:10Del Pino and De Ligny.
00:12:11And Alex Powell over the line.
00:12:13Only his second weekend in an F3 car.
00:12:16And he goes to second place.
00:12:18Wow, that's a statement, isn't it, Powell?
00:12:20First weekend in FIA Formula 3 last time out.
00:12:24Second qualifying in FIA Formula 3 first run.
00:12:27Puts himself in an elite group clear of the rest of the field.
00:12:30But that split strategy, going out late from the Van Ammer Sport racing guys,
00:12:35clearly worked for them as they go third and fourth.
00:12:37Listen, I've got the front rider not working and the throttle will stop open.
00:12:44It's a shock.
00:12:47Oh no, that could be very bad for Freddy Slater reporting problems back to the Trident pit wall.
00:12:55He's 13th place overall.
00:12:58There has been an incident involving GSD and Slater for driving erratically.
00:13:02That has just been noted for now.
00:13:05Jin Nakamura very quick in practice earlier in this first qualifying session down in 22nd for now.
00:13:11But concerning stuff that for Freddy Slater.
00:13:14That is not the stress that Slater needed.
00:13:16I was actually saying, Chris, just while we were listening to Slater's interview just a moment ago,
00:13:20look how calm he was in that interview.
00:13:22For a driver that's only just turned 18 years of age,
00:13:25he was looking so calm, so very much in the moment.
00:13:28But then you can know that as soon as the adrenaline comes up of these qualifying sessions
00:13:32and then something doesn't go your way, you can hear the concern in Slater's voice
00:13:35because as much as he's in control in the championship, it could all fall away
00:13:40if this, especially the first part of qualifying, doesn't go well.
00:13:42They're going to stay out on track and go for another one here.
00:13:46And we are watching Freddy Slater.
00:13:48Let's have a look at him coming into the first corner now.
00:13:52They really attack that kerb and try and open the corner up.
00:13:55Oh, and that was very close to the barrier for Slater.
00:13:58That was full commitment on the exit, turn two, the exit falls away, the track drops down,
00:14:02so you need to be committed and hope that the rear sticks.
00:14:04We then head flat out now as you jump on board with our championship leader
00:14:08who needs a good lap at this stage, currently sitting down in 13th place,
00:14:111.3 away from Taito Kato, committed over the kerb.
00:14:15Look at that, how close to the barrier, close enough.
00:14:17Now we go uphill, over 10 metres of elevation up here towards bunker,
00:14:21over the kerb once again, doesn't quite grab it this time,
00:14:24then traction through turn nine, then 10-11, just setting ourselves up.
00:14:28This is pretty high commitment, Chris, not a lot of runoff here.
00:14:30Once again, so close to the wall on the right, fighting the car to the left,
00:14:34then we're going to go flat out, Le Monumental, banked corner, 500 metres over,
00:14:38as we go flat out.
00:14:40The crowd getting a brilliant shot of the brilliant sounding F3 cars,
00:14:43now downhill, tricky braking zone.
00:14:46Track limits comes up quickly on the exit, Slater going in a bit early there,
00:14:49that's good to just get the nose in, try and go in too late,
00:14:52you can easily miss the rubbered in line,
00:14:54and that's because it's a new circuit, Chris.
00:14:56Off the line, dusty, you'll lose grip very, very quickly.
00:14:59We go completely flat out, and then 16 and 17, sliding on the brakes,
00:15:02big front left lock-up, makes the apex though just about,
00:15:05it doesn't matter, these tyres, once he's done this lap,
00:15:07pretty much done all they need to for now.
00:15:09Flat out, not quite through there, breathe on the throttle twice,
00:15:13right up to the edge of track limits through 19 as well.
00:15:15Now just three 90-degree corners coming up.
00:15:17First of all, left-hander, good traction out of there,
00:15:21trying, it looks like it's good on the exits,
00:15:23continually pushing, Chris, is he improving?
00:15:25Freddie Slater up to the final corner,
00:15:27Kanato Lee has just gone into the top 10,
00:15:29Freddie Slater's teammate, Batera Paolo to fourth,
00:15:32but this needs to be an improvement for Slater,
00:15:34he's currently down in 16th, where does he go over the line?
00:15:37P3, but Ugachuku going very quickly as well,
00:15:40his championship rival out of the top 12,
00:15:42but surely he'll shoot right up into it, yes,
00:15:45P4 for Ugachuku so far,
00:15:47and Jin Nakamura going to second place.
00:15:50That pace he had in practice,
00:15:53he is carrying over to this session as we pick up Pedro Claro.
00:15:56Pedro Claro coming into the final sector,
00:15:58interesting, isn't it?
00:15:59Slater and Ugachuku almost inseparable once again.
00:16:02Oh, so close to the wall is Claro,
00:16:04that's going to go top,
00:16:05Rodin at the top of the field.
00:16:07Wow, provisional pole position for Pedro Claro,
00:16:10that would put him on pole for the feature race tomorrow.
00:16:15You have to be in this top 12 for the reverse of the sprint race.
00:16:19So, so far, Alex Powell,
00:16:21Mace Gwadish just inside that,
00:16:24but it's Claro leading ahead of Kato,
00:16:26only just Jin Nakamura in third,
00:16:29then Rivera, Tapanen,
00:16:30Deligny,
00:16:31Chiusti,
00:16:32Ugachuku,
00:16:32Nile,
00:16:33Slater,
00:16:34Powell up to P5,
00:16:36absolutely flying out there.
00:16:37So Slater 11th,
00:16:39only just in the top 12 with Mace Gwadish.
00:16:41Yeah,
00:16:41I think we're going to get another run in this session,
00:16:43but Chris,
00:16:43look at this,
00:16:44we've got Rodin ART,
00:16:45High Tech Campos,
00:16:46Prema MP,
00:16:47VAR MP,
00:16:49the top eight,
00:16:50seven teams.
00:16:51So very much on the drivers at this stage.
00:16:53If you pull the lap out as a driver,
00:16:55you're going to be up there somewhere at the front of the field,
00:16:57but how impressive was that first lap from Taito Kato?
00:17:00First lap out of the box,
00:17:02and only Pedro Claro could beat it on his second attempt.
00:17:15It's similar to Monza,
00:17:17didn't it?
00:17:17When we saw Freddy's right rear tire fall off the car,
00:17:20and it looked like the steering was a bit jaunty,
00:17:22which is even more impressive if Freddy Slater's been dealing with the issue that he said with the throttle,
00:17:27the brakes,
00:17:27the front right,
00:17:28now the rear right as well.
00:17:29So absolutely not in harmony in the Trident canvas.
00:17:32But Slater still managing to scrape into the top 12 provisionally.
00:17:36Yeah,
00:17:36only he and Ikechukwu just inside it,
00:17:38the two drivers fighting for this championship.
00:17:41In comes Freddy Slater now.
00:17:43He is the only driver in pit lane,
00:17:46and he's our championship leader.
00:17:47And Trident,
00:17:48this is going to be very important work for them now in the pit lane here.
00:17:53Freddy Slater making his way down.
00:17:54Very long pit lane here as well,
00:17:56over 800 meters,
00:17:57one of the longest of the season,
00:17:59which means that he's going to be going slow for a long time.
00:18:01A new set of hard tires going on,
00:18:04which is not the common strategy that we're seeing.
00:18:07I think they may be just giving an opportunity to have a look at the car,
00:18:11because it doesn't look like anyone else is going again.
00:18:13These hard tires staying for more than a lap.
00:18:15Yeah,
00:18:16let's see what difference this makes now.
00:18:19So that's a bold decision from him as a driver to come in.
00:18:22Yes,
00:18:23because also everyone else is continuing on their hard tires.
00:18:27So they're going to go again and then save another set of hard tires for the next session,
00:18:30where Slater's going to have to then use these used tires in the next qualifying,
00:18:34potentially just giving them a slight disadvantage later on.
00:18:37But they know they need to nail this session because it sets two of the three grid slots.
00:18:42All three ARTs are improving.
00:18:4335.3 through the first sector for Kato.
00:18:47Gwadishten at 35.5.
00:18:49Yevon David is also going very quickly.
00:18:5235.4 for him through the first sector.
00:18:56So we've got lots of drivers really improving out there now as Taito Kato,
00:19:01quickest of anyone through the first two sectors.
00:19:04Was that track limits on the exit though?
00:19:06It was very close if not.
00:19:08Look to me,
00:19:08Chris,
00:19:08we saw a bit of daylight between the white line and the tires of Taito Kato right up to the
00:19:13track.
00:19:13He touched the wall,
00:19:14Chris.
00:19:15Oh,
00:19:15Taito Kato playing with fire out there now as he heads down into the breaking zone at turn 20.
00:19:21Two to go for Taito Kato to Katapanen, quickest through the second sector.
00:19:27And he had a really good weekend at Monza.
00:19:30How about this for Kato?
00:19:31How close does he go to the wall on the exit?
00:19:33Very,
00:19:34very close.
00:19:35And Taito Kato goes quickest of anyone.
00:19:37Provisional pole position.
00:19:39Matcha Gwadish not able to improve behind.
00:19:42How about Kato Lee?
00:19:43Great point.
00:19:44The car's broken.
00:19:45It's clubbing.
00:19:48And this is an absolute disaster.
00:19:51Freddie Slater,
00:19:51your championship leader,
00:19:53this qualifying session alone,
00:19:55sets the grid for both races tomorrow.
00:19:57And we have a qualifying session straight after.
00:20:00And his championship rival,
00:20:02only 15 points back,
00:20:03Uga Chukub has just gone P4.
00:20:05Yeah,
00:20:05lock up in two there for Rivera as we head into the final sector.
00:20:09Just gliding our way through turn 21.
00:20:12What can Rivera do?
00:20:13He's looked pretty good at this late stage of the season.
00:20:15He's vying for third place in the championship.
00:20:17Big snap of oversteer.
00:20:18That won't help his time.
00:20:19Where will that put him?
00:20:19Finn McLaughlin into the top 12.
00:20:21Rivera moving up a position.
00:20:23So that would put McLaughlin on the front row for the sprint race
00:20:27with the MP driver there next along.
00:20:33Yeah, Slater has now been bumped out of the top 12.
00:20:35So he needs this lap.
00:20:37He needs to perform in his last couple of goes round.
00:20:40He's only had one build lap so far.
00:20:42Will he go for a build again?
00:20:44Not sure.
00:20:45Doesn't look like he's full push out the last corner,
00:20:47although he may just be setting himself up.
00:20:48But all the pressure on the young Briton's shoulders.
00:20:51Yeah, he's saying the car is crabbing.
00:20:53So he thinks there's maybe some suspension damage on the car somewhere.
00:20:58Has he made contact with the wall?
00:21:00I wonder that has caused that.
00:21:03We'll have to find out.
00:21:04Yeah, interesting.
00:21:05Pressure on Slater at this stage.
00:21:07He's going to have to try and figure it out.
00:21:08We've seen it before, though, in Formula 2.
00:21:10Was it Behrman a few years ago?
00:21:12Set pole with a wonky steering wheel, didn't he?
00:21:14So it can be done if you ignore it and just push on regardless.
00:21:17There is Brando Badouer in the pits.
00:21:20He's decided that he's done enough for now.
00:21:22Yeah.
00:21:23Brando Badouer down in 20th place.
00:21:26But they will have a qualifying session straight after this to set the grid for the final race of the
00:21:30season.
00:21:30It looked like there was some attention on Badouer's car from the road and mechanics at the rear, which suggests
00:21:35to me maybe he clouted the wall on his attempt at a flying lap as well.
00:21:39Bent the rear suspension.
00:21:40He won't have time to go out again and set another lap in this session.
00:21:43But again, we've got a double qualifying session.
00:21:46So he'll go out again.
00:21:47Is it going to be confirmation of exactly that?
00:21:49Oh, yeah.
00:21:49There we go.
00:21:50That wasn't a tap.
00:21:50That was a whack, Chris.
00:21:52Yeah, precisely.
00:21:53And there you can see the car's crabbing straight away.
00:21:56That one much more significant than what we're seeing from Freddy Slater.
00:22:00So now this is a race to get this car fixed for the next qualifying session.
00:22:04This qualifying session, essentially, a write-off.
00:22:06Yeah, Badouer just using this time.
00:22:08Well, Badouer's team using this time to fix the car as we go on to the final runs of this
00:22:12session.
00:22:12And once again, Taito Kato, full commitment up to the wall.
00:22:17And the exit two is going through three.
00:22:19Once again, no lack of commitment from the ART driver.
00:22:22Currently sits provisionally top.
00:22:24He needs not to push too hard.
00:22:25He's been close to the wall.
00:22:26Touched it on that last flying lap.
00:22:28If he pushes any more, he could find himself in the wall, out of the session,
00:22:32and not be able to replicate his pace in the next part of qualifying.
00:22:35Oh, my word.
00:22:36He came up to the camera very quickly there.
00:22:38Taito Kato is having fun, isn't he?
00:22:41He is really enjoying himself, pushing the absolute limits that that F3 car has,
00:22:46as he now makes his way towards La Monumental.
00:22:49Yeah, we go through here once again.
00:22:50The little chicane that sets you up for La Monumental.
00:22:53The exit out there is important because in Formula 3,
00:22:55we go completely flat out through his sideways, Chris.
00:22:58Oh, my goodness.
00:22:59Taito Kato.
00:23:01On days like this, when things are going your way, you feel like you can't do wrong.
00:23:04And Taito Kato, so far, has been pretty much perfect.
00:23:08Although, remember, that lap that he did last time out potentially will be under investigation for track limits.
00:23:14What was that on the right-hand side, Chris?
00:23:16Brady Slater asking the team, he's asking the team to leave him alone.
00:23:19They're saying he's going to get one more push lap.
00:23:20He knows this is going to be a very important push lap.
00:23:23This is the qualifying session for two races.
00:23:27Taito Kato now coming towards the end of the lap pick.
00:23:31And Arto Lee also going very quickly, as is Nicola La Corte as well.
00:23:35The timing screens are lighting up.
00:23:37We could see some changes come the end of the session here, Piers.
00:23:39We'll see Kato over the line first.
00:23:41Greens all over in the first sector, but still no one's quicker than Slater, who's got purple first sector at
00:23:46the moment.
00:23:47Well, his fastest lap earlier on, but he's currently outside the top 12.
00:23:51We're hearing in our ears that somewhere around the lap Slater's made a mistake as Taito Kato hits the wall,
00:23:56can't improve.
00:23:57Over the line he goes, so that might leave the door open for someone to take pole position for the
00:24:03feature race tomorrow.
00:24:04Could it be the Williams back driver, Alessandro Giusti, who is wrestling with that car coming through turn 20 into
00:24:11the final two corners?
00:24:13We go now, Ernesto Rivera has just gone quickest through the second sector.
00:24:17He could be one to watch at the end of the session here.
00:24:20Giusti over the line.
00:24:22Where does this put him?
00:24:23He'll stay seventh at best in the background.
00:24:25We've got one of the Campos cars coming up to the line now.
00:24:29No improvements, it seems, yet, but Ernesto Rivera looks the one to watch.
00:24:34Yeah, we'll keep an eye on Rivera as we head into the final sector.
00:24:36This is one of the Van Ammer sports coming through here.
00:24:39De Ligny, what can he do down towards the final sector?
00:24:41Big braking zone into here.
00:24:42We've seen the drivers absolutely hustling through this last sector.
00:24:45The last, that is pure hustle right there, Chris.
00:24:48Sideways, just narrowly avoiding the wall.
00:24:51Enzo De Ligny coming up to the final corner now.
00:24:55Hiyu Yamakoshi is also improving as well.
00:24:58Rivera stayed P6.
00:25:00What can De Ligny do?
00:25:01He goes up to P5.
00:25:03Yamakoshi all the way down in 25th.
00:25:05It's not been a good day for him so far,
00:25:07but he looks like he could turn that round on this lap.
00:25:10Slater's in trouble, you know, Chris.
00:25:12He's not improved in the first sector.
00:25:13Keeping half an eye on that.
00:25:14Don't think he's improved in the second.
00:25:16That is Slater.
00:25:16Slater's slow.
00:25:17Slater's...
00:25:18Yeah, that's it.
00:25:19Wow.
00:25:20Freddie Slater will be 16th.
00:25:22Make that 17th.
00:25:23That's Del Pino.
00:25:25Just goes into ninth place.
00:25:26Our championship leader will be down in P17 for both races tomorrow.
00:25:33Let's have a look what happened.
00:25:34This is the lap that Slater needed to improve.
00:25:36You can see the cars crabbing.
00:25:37Steering wheel slightly left-hand down.
00:25:38Turn one.
00:25:39Just completely missed the apex.
00:25:40And at that point, Slater knew.
00:25:42Session done.
00:25:44Wow.
00:25:46And this is some curbing a bit more for Yevon David.
00:25:50Beautifully done through there,
00:25:52although I'm not sure if that was technically the track limits.
00:25:56Well, Taito Kato takes pole position.
00:26:01What a performance there from Taito Kato.
00:26:04And that will be his first pole position in Formula 3.
00:26:07A first for ART this season as well.
00:26:11He will lead us away in the feature race tomorrow.
00:26:15Absolutely brilliant stuff.
00:26:17But, well, from one extreme to another,
00:26:19really good stuff for Taito Kato.
00:26:21Disaster for Freddy Slater.
00:26:23Who knows he needs to get back to the pit lane quickly.
00:26:25No problem.
00:26:27It's on.
00:26:28It's on, Ben.
00:26:30The throttle doesn't stop.
00:26:31The brakes don't go out.
00:26:33It's on.
00:26:34It's on.
00:26:37I can't imagine what's going through his head.
00:26:40Freddy Slater, he's going to have to get that back to the pit lane
00:26:44and can't figure out what's gone wrong there.
00:26:47So, from his point of view, he hasn't done anything wrong.
00:26:51He's gone out on the circuit at Petro Claro.
00:26:5412,000ths away from being on pole position,
00:26:58but it will be a first pole position for ART since Hungary in 2024,
00:27:04the Aramco pole position going to Taito Kato.
00:27:08And what a performance, Piz.
00:27:09He took two podiums at Monza last week,
00:27:12including that sprint race win.
00:27:14He's really been on form at the end of the season, hasn't he?
00:27:16And he could jump up and challenge for third place in the championship.
00:27:20That was an impressive session for Taito Kato.
00:27:22We watched quite a lot of his laps,
00:27:24and he was absolutely full push, full send from the first lap out the pit.
00:27:28His first lap, Chris, first lap,
00:27:30would have been good enough for the top three positions.
00:27:32Incredible, incredible session.
00:27:34We've got crunch time at Trident now.
00:27:37Slater needs to reset, and the team needs to fix the car.
00:27:41It does now.
00:27:42A reminder that this sets the grid for both the races tomorrow.
00:27:45The sprint race and the feature race will be reversed the top 12 for that.
00:27:49Well, it's a first pole position for Taito Kato,
00:27:52a first for ART in two years.
00:27:54Pedro Claro coming so, so close, finishing in second place.
00:27:59What a session for him.
00:28:00That's his best performance in a qualifying session.
00:28:02Tapanen, third, then Ugachuku taking advantage of the misfortune for Slater in fourth.
00:28:09De Ligny, Nakamura, Rivera next.
00:28:12And we had Teofil, Niall, and Jane Wharton rounding out the top 12.
00:28:15They'll jump to the front row for the sprint race.
00:28:17To Paolo, McLaughlin, David, Kulnagi, Slater, Yamakoshi, Guadish, and Kanato Lee.
00:28:24And then we had Nicola LaCorte, Brando Badoua, Jose Garfias, Michael Shin, Fernando Barrichello, Noah Stromstedt, Nicolo McIgnani, and Nandavud
00:28:34Firon Bakhtin.
00:28:36And that is that session complete.
00:28:38And we have a quick reset, Fizz, and then we get ready to go again in a few minutes' time.
00:28:44Yeah, we're having a quick reset here in the commentary box,
00:28:47but Trident need a full control, alt, delete, restart computer because they have a big mountain to climb in this
00:28:53one.
00:28:54They are now on the back foot in the championship despite their 15-point lead with Slater in the driver's
00:29:00standings.
00:29:00Ugachuku will go from eighth and fourth provisionally, whereas Slater will go from outside the top 15.
00:29:08And this is a track where we think overtaking will be possible, but it won't be like it was in
00:29:13Monza one week ago.
00:29:14So Slater needs a good result in this qualifying session to give himself a good grid slot for the final
00:29:19race of the season, that additional feature race.
00:29:23Yeah, we could see a change in the championship lead tomorrow here.
00:29:26Ugachuku has given himself the possibility to do that.
00:29:30James Wharton will jump up to the front row of the grid for the sprint race.
00:29:35But we saw them pushing hard in that one.
00:29:38They can afford to leave even more out there in this one because that set the grid for both the
00:29:44sprint race and the feature race.
00:29:45And then we had another qualifying session.
00:29:47So we may see the drivers giving it even more in this one, but they came very close to the
00:29:54barriers on a number of occasions.
00:29:55I love seeing the drivers push to the absolute limit around a circuit like this, Chris.
00:30:00It's great to see visually how much more committed you can be through some of the corners and how much
00:30:06that can actually gain you in lap time as well, as now we've got some big conversations going on there.
00:30:11Yeah, you can see Alan McNish down there.
00:30:15The Audi junior driver, Freddie Slater in the car, McNish, a person who spotted the talents of Freddie Slater when
00:30:23he was in F4 and signed him up as an Audi junior this season.
00:30:29But the team working very hard on the car there, Piz.
00:30:32I think they're changing a lot of components just to try and reduce any variables.
00:30:36We heard Slater struggling with the front and the rears.
00:30:39They're looking at the back.
00:30:39They're changing some of the suspension components.
00:30:41The components at the front of the car as well.
00:30:45So basically just changing everything they've got time to change, I think, on the car to give Slater any chance
00:30:50of a good session in this next one.
00:30:53Yeah.
00:30:54So it will be a session that starts, we're scheduled to start in around 60 seconds time.
00:31:01So we're not far away from seeing them back out onto the circuit.
00:31:05And then it's only a 20 minute session as well.
00:31:07So this is a race against the clock now for the Trident team.
00:31:10Yeah, they will get out.
00:31:12There are a team, as a team, they do this regularly and they'll be able to get that car out
00:31:15for this session comfortably.
00:31:16He might not go out with everyone right at the start of the session, but we saw Van Amersfoort deliberately
00:31:21do that at the start of the previous session.
00:31:23That worked for them.
00:31:24But it just means that now also don't forget Slater's got those tyres that he used in that previous session
00:31:29that he'll probably start this session on.
00:31:31Whereas everyone else will be on a brand shiny new set of tyres.
00:31:34But even front wing being changed there.
00:31:36Oh, that's actually not Slater, is it?
00:31:38I think that's Stromstead.
00:31:39Stromstead, yeah.
00:31:41So Noah Stromstead out there in the number four Trident.
00:31:45How important is this, though, for Slater?
00:31:49He's got, you could see that, you could hear that it did, it was getting to him and understandably so
00:31:56going in to, in a qualifying session that set the grid for the sprint race and feature race one.
00:32:02So qualifying two coming up now and this will set the grid for the feature race on Sunday.
00:32:07For Freddie Slater, he's going to have to get himself calmed back down.
00:32:11From a driver's point of view, how is it when you're in a situation like this?
00:32:13Yes, the team are working hard to get the car back in a position, but we heard quite clearly how
00:32:19rattled Slater was and frustrated in that session.
00:32:23I mean, rightly so, if he felt that there's an issue with the car, then you're going to be frustrated
00:32:26when you know you're in a championship battle and potentially one of the most crucial qualifying's of the season.
00:32:32But he now has another job to do.
00:32:34So he needs to somehow, as a young 18-year-old athlete, go, right, that's done, can't change that now.
00:32:41All I can do is go out there and try and have the perfect second qualifying session.
00:32:45He knows it's in there somewhere.
00:32:47He was fastest in the first sector in that first session.
00:32:50So he knows he can do it.
00:32:51If the car's there, he then needs to perform.
00:32:54Yeah, you see Boydie next in there, someone that's been by his side ever since he began in kart racing.
00:33:01Freddie Slater, and just hoping now that the car will feel as it's supposed to when he gets back out
00:33:11there on the circuit.
00:33:11Actually, interestingly, we've got a new set of slicks on there.
00:33:14So then Trident using their third set of brand new hard tyres in this session, they've clearly taken those used,
00:33:20that second used set.
00:33:21They'll just save that for one of the races this weekend because it's three sets of tyres for the qualifying
00:33:26sessions and two races, sorry, three races this weekend.
00:33:29So, again, still slight disadvantage for Slater, but at least it's not going to hurt him as much as it
00:33:35potentially would have done.
00:33:37We're going to be keeping a close eye on what the Trident of Slater and Ugachuku can do.
00:33:42Ugachuku got the job done in that one, but there's nothing to say that there's guaranteed that he can do
00:33:46it again as well.
00:33:47Who knows what can happen?
00:33:48We've had so many twists and turns in this 2026 Formula 3 season.
00:33:53Precisely so.
00:33:55And we are about to go green at the end of the pit lane.
00:33:5920 minutes more, but it's a bit of a reset here.
00:34:03We've set the grids now for Saturday.
00:34:05Now it's time to go and set the grid for Sunday.
00:34:08And once again, Taito Kato and ART will lead us out the pit lane.
00:34:13And he would have just been looking at that green light at the end of the pit lane, desperate to
00:34:18get back out there.
00:34:19He's clearly enjoying himself out there today.
00:34:21Yeah, I kind of touched on it, but then we had to talk about other things.
00:34:24But Taito Kato today clearly is just in a good place in terms of his confidence with the car himself.
00:34:30And also clearly the car is working for him because to be able to go out there and go nearly
00:34:35a second quicker than the rest of the best young drivers in the world in this Formula 3 grid.
00:34:40And that first lap was a statement of intent.
00:34:42And then to go and improve the lap, albeit slightly, to then take pole.
00:34:46Very impressive.
00:34:46He was quick in practice as well this morning.
00:34:48Second fastest.
00:34:50Was quick in the mid-season test here at the Madring as well.
00:34:53He just needs to go out there and not try and push too much more.
00:34:56Because it's when you start pushing and trying to find time in corners where there isn't time is when you
00:35:02can make an issue.
00:35:03Well, you can see Trident have got that driver of Freddy Slater out.
00:35:09He is the championship leader.
00:35:10A close fight between himself and Ogochuga.
00:35:12Let's hear what Giacomo Ricci from Trident had to say about that championship battle.
00:35:19Well, as you mentioned, we are used to this and to this kind of pressure.
00:35:24And I have to say everything is open with three races left and 67 points on the table.
00:35:34In Monza we did a good job.
00:35:36Unfortunately, in the future race we had a mechanical problem on Freddy's car who forced him to retire.
00:35:43But overall, we were pleased with our performance in Monza.
00:35:48Here during the test, during the two days, we have been competitive.
00:35:52And, you know, we have to try to keep the weekend as clean as possible.
00:35:57And, again, try to be consistent in the two qualifying.
00:36:07You can see the team now just hoping that Freddy Slater will be back to normal out there because now
00:36:17this is turning into a crucial qualifying session for our championship leader.
00:36:21And he's keen to get on with it, isn't he?
00:36:23Statement of intent there from Slater.
00:36:25Passing drivers, trying to find some space on the circuit.
00:36:27He wants a nice bit of clean air to drive into.
00:36:30He doesn't want to get held up.
00:36:31He, as we've said, he's got the pace.
00:36:34Hopefully he feels that the car is fixed.
00:36:36It doesn't look to be crabbing anymore.
00:36:37So whatever that issue was, provisionally, looks like it's somewhat sorted.
00:36:42Another build lap, as we've seen on these Pirelli hard tyres this weekend and many times when we had them
00:36:47before.
00:36:47But that's the man.
00:36:49It's not all over at this stage for Slater.
00:36:51He can have a good qualifying session here.
00:36:53It looked like it was all plain sailing and that Slater was going to be walking away with the championship
00:36:57at one point in the Monza weekend.
00:36:59And look how quickly that turned around, Chris.
00:37:01Very true.
00:37:02It kept changing, didn't it?
00:37:04What a Monza weekend it was in terms of the championship fight as well as the races as well.
00:37:10Campos Racing up there in both championships.
00:37:13Let's hear what Theo Phil Niall had to say about the Campos team coming into the weekend.
00:37:21From Formula 4, I always be dreaming of being part of this team one day because they were super fast
00:37:28in F4.
00:37:29So for me, they were, let's say, the top team, the team to base one day.
00:37:33So to be part of them was such, yeah, a great achievement for me.
00:37:40And this season, I mean, the whole team, the whole crew, all engineers worked super hard for that.
00:37:46So I think they really deserve that as well in Formula 2, they are super, super good in all categories.
00:37:54They are fighting for for championships, for races, for podiums, for victories.
00:37:58So, yeah, I think they grew up a lot and it's really well deserved.
00:38:05So, Campos Racing leading the way in F2, leading the way in F1 Academy and up there in F3, they
00:38:12are second, third, fourth in the championship.
00:38:14Leading the team's championship as well by 64 points over Tride.
00:38:20Yeah, Theo Phil Niall there speaking, the driver that won the Macau Grand Prix, which is a one-off event
00:38:25at the street circuit in Macau,
00:38:27which is one of the very few remaining one-off events.
00:38:31And it's a circuit, actually, that has drawn a lot of comparisons to this one, or should I say the
00:38:35other way around?
00:38:36This smattering circuit has drawn a lot of comparisons from the drivers to Macau with its very technical, close to
00:38:42the walls,
00:38:42high commitment middle sector, and then the long straights and 90-degree corners at the end of the lap.
00:38:46A lot of undulation changes as well.
00:38:49So drivers that do well there, I imagine, will do well here.
00:38:52Slater was the driver that was on pole and won the pre-final race that day.
00:38:57So he needs to try and emulate that this weekend.
00:38:59Taito Carter came fifth in that event last year, and he's looked pretty strong this year.
00:39:03Theo Phil Niall was up there in that previous session.
00:39:05Wonder if we're going to see that more.
00:39:07Different line there. Slater didn't make the curve through Turn 1.
00:39:10I wonder if that was a deliberate act or whether he's just missed the apex in his first flying lap.
00:39:14Let's see what he can do on this one.
00:39:17A crucial session now for the championship leader, Freddie Slater, making his way up towards Turn 4 and 5.
00:39:24So we will keep you up to speed on who is looking good through the sectors, but attacking the curve
00:39:29there, Freddie Slater.
00:39:30No curve through Turn 1. Plenty of curve through 5 and 6.
00:39:33We now head into the middle sector where the corners come thick and fast.
00:39:37Bunker has got a good exit.
00:39:38Purple in the first provisionally.
00:39:40We head towards La Monumentale once again.
00:39:42We've got 10 and 11 coming up first.
00:39:46Looks pretty good so far.
00:39:48Yeah.
00:39:48Freddie Slater now heading round La Monumentale.
00:39:51Quickest through the first sector, and I think that's the quickest first sector we have seen all day.
00:39:5635 flat from Freddie Slater, and he is looking absolutely fired up.
00:40:02A fired up Freddie Slater is a very dangerous one.
00:40:05I can tell you that, having watched him over the years, and it's looking absolutely pinned out there.
00:40:10My goodness, a 35 flat.
00:40:12The best first sector we've got from anyone else is a 35-3 that I've seen clear.
00:40:16Actually, Baddowair, 35-1.
00:40:18That's still two tenths clear, Slater.
00:40:19And he goes purple in the middle as well.
00:40:21This is looking very, very good for Freddie Slater.
00:40:25He was keen to get on with it.
00:40:26Was that track limits, though?
00:40:27That was very, very close coming through Turn 19.
00:40:31We'll follow it as it is for now.
00:40:33Through 20, just missing the wall on the exit there.
00:40:36Two to go on this lap for Freddie Slater.
00:40:38What's it going to be?
00:40:39You can see getting very close to the wall on the exit.
00:40:42One more for the Audi Junior.
00:40:44Where will this put him?
00:40:4617th he was in qualifying one.
00:40:48In qualifying two, he starts fastest.
00:40:501.49.9.
00:40:52What a time from the British driver.
00:40:54That is the fastest lap we've seen this weekend.
00:40:56That's very close to the times we were seeing in the test earlier on in the mid-season.
00:41:00We're still about a second away from that.
00:41:01But track conditions very difficult, different, sorry, from then.
00:41:04Now looking at Ugachuku out the last corner, the number two campus driver.
00:41:07He needs to be up somewhere near his teammate or his championship rival.
00:41:10And he is on terms of position, but nowhere near in terms of time.
00:41:15Half a second away, Slater absolutely putting that first session behind him
00:41:19and driving angry out there.
00:41:21And it's working for him.
00:41:22And Pedro Auclair wants that pole position.
00:41:24You could see when he saw he was second, he was so, so close.
00:41:28And he's up there in P2.
00:41:30Jin Nakamura has looked very quick all day.
00:41:33Just coming through the final corner.
00:41:35Red Bull Junior, Finn McLaughlin behind him.
00:41:37Over the line comes Jin Nakamura.
00:41:39Now where will this put him as he makes his way over the line?
00:41:43You can see Finn McLaughlin going up into the top ten.
00:41:46Jin Nakamura goes P3.
00:41:47So it was a good time from him.
00:41:48Yeah, Nakamura popping in a 50.3.
00:41:50That's still four tenths away, but he's third for now, that first lap from Slater.
00:41:54Very impressive indeed.
00:41:55Yamakoshi dropping inside the top ten as well.
00:41:58But wow, Chris, are we seeing a resurgence from Slater?
00:42:01Terrible first session.
00:42:03Brilliant first lap.
00:42:04We saw Kato do a good first lap earlier.
00:42:06Can Slater emulate that?
00:42:08James Wharton over the line and up there in P11.
00:42:13So James Wharton has been on row six for both feature aces as it stands.
00:42:19So looking competitive out there.
00:42:21Let's take a breath and look back at some of the replays.
00:42:25This is Taito Kato, Chris.
00:42:27That is messy.
00:42:30His hand actually flew off the steering wheel.
00:42:32It's so much curve, Chris, there.
00:42:34His hands were removed from the steering wheel, which is why his first sector wasn't there.
00:42:37This is millimetres away, Chris.
00:42:39It's all good.
00:42:40He's absolutely fine in that corner.
00:42:42We did speculate as to whether that was over track limits.
00:42:44That's flat out through turn 19.
00:42:46We've seen drivers have lap times deleted there.
00:42:49You want to go as close to track limits as possible because it's a shorter line,
00:42:53more open steering, scrubbing less speed, but you can get your lap time deleted.
00:42:57Yeah, T1 at the moment.
00:42:59Yeah, fine.
00:43:01This is with a car that is not stopping, not stopping.
00:43:04I mean, the car is...
00:43:08How can it be so bad?
00:43:11We have an issue somewhere.
00:43:16You're two tenths quicker than anyone, so if he didn't have any issues, well, I can't imagine where he would
00:43:24be.
00:43:24I was about to say, scared to worry what time he would do without those issues, if there are genuine
00:43:28issues.
00:43:28But it's interesting to me to hear, Slater, that's a frame of mind that you don't really want to be
00:43:34in during a qualifying session,
00:43:35thinking about what's going wrong, what's going to hit wrong here and there.
00:43:38But somehow, he's not letting it affect his driving because that first lap was very impressive indeed.
00:43:44Kato, I still think, has more to give.
00:43:46He was fast in the first part of qualifying, currently sits tenths, and Kato's on a flying lap right now.
00:43:52And that's a very good first sector.
00:43:5335-1 for Taito Kato.
00:43:55We saw the mistake he had on his last flying lap where his hands came off the steering wheel,
00:44:00and this is looking good for Kato.
00:44:02La Monumental next pitch.
00:44:03Yeah, that's the second fastest first sector that I've seen.
00:44:06There may have been a couple of other close ones, but very quick indeed.
00:44:08We're running through La Monumental down towards the end of sector two.
00:44:12This big braking zone has caught drivers out before this weekend.
00:44:14Can he get it stopped?
00:44:16Freddy Slater, 34.9 through the first sector.
00:44:19What a time as Taito Kato are nearly going into the wall.
00:44:22We're hearing Slater may have made a mistake somewhere as well,
00:44:26so we'll keep you posted on his second sector.
00:44:28But Taito Kato, second sector, he's the quickest of anyone through their piss.
00:44:32This could be enough.
00:44:32That was close to track limits once again, Chris,
00:44:34on the exit of that sharp corner at the bottom of the hill there.
00:44:37The drivers will have to be careful of that.
00:44:39Stewart will have a look if we head through turn 19, very close to the wall as well.
00:44:43Yeah, Taito Kato, very close with track limits on the exit as they all are taking all the margins they
00:44:51can.
00:44:51Taito Kato, two to go on this lap, currently in P10.
00:44:55I expect he'll go up the order here.
00:44:57This is looking a really good lap from him into the final corner.
00:45:00He goes now and almost into the wall on the exit, and he goes all the way up to P1.
00:45:06It's provisional pole position for Taito Kato, a 1.49.9.
00:45:10We cut back to Ugachuku, the driver that needs to be somewhere near Slater.
00:45:13He's had a good session so far in the first part, heading through into the final sector.
00:45:18Now very close to the wall.
00:45:19This is a driver that's also won the Macau Grand Prix, won it two seasons ago,
00:45:23so knows how to win around a street circuit.
00:45:25What can the Campos driver and Championship Hovel do over the line?
00:45:28He goes fastest.
00:45:29Oh, provisional pole position for Ugachuku.
00:45:32Badouair looking very quick as well in P9.
00:45:36Canato Lee has gone up to 14th place.
00:45:38Ernesto Rivera, teammate to Ugachuku, up to P5.
00:45:41Sugiesti, up to P6.
00:45:43We're following Brando Badouair's Colnaghi.
00:45:46He's up into the top five as well.
00:45:48What can the Italian do?
00:45:49Over the line he goes.
00:45:50It's P7 for him, but his teammate, Piers, takes pole position.
00:45:54Claro, 139.8.
00:45:56Sorry, Chris.
00:45:57Yeah, Claro doing a great job.
00:45:58He was so close, wasn't he, to Carter in that first part of qualifying,
00:46:01and now he's done enough to provisionally put it top,
00:46:04but there's still seven and a half minutes plus a little bit to go in this session.
00:46:07So second run of laps.
00:46:10Claro up there.
00:46:11Let's have a look at Slater.
00:46:11This was Arthur.
00:46:12He's at the best first sector car airborne through the middle of five and six.
00:46:17We head up towards the bunker.
00:46:18Was there another mistake here?
00:46:20Yeah, big left front lockup.
00:46:22That was where the time went away from Slater.
00:46:24The first sector belongs to Slater today so far.
00:46:27Fastest in the first sector in the first part of qualifying.
00:46:30Fastest currently in the first part, but that's a pretty big flat spot on that tyre now, Chris.
00:46:34I wonder if that will hurt him in this final run of qualifying.
00:46:37I think he might be right.
00:46:38This is a driver who's at quick today with the field all on the level playing field.
00:46:43Alex Powell is taking advantage of it.
00:46:46This is just his second weekend in the car, Piers,
00:46:50and Alex Powell up there in P11.
00:46:52Yeah, and he was, for much of the last session as well, the strongest of the Prima drivers too.
00:46:59So to join the championship partway through is his tall order.
00:47:03And then you've got the fastest circuit is where he joined at Monza.
00:47:06So again, pretty intimidating.
00:47:08And then joining at a brand new circuit where the walls are ever present and very close as well.
00:47:13So Alex Powell doing an excellent job in his very short F3 career so far.
00:47:18So Pedro Aclero on to take a first pole position there.
00:47:23Ugachuku second.
00:47:24You spotted something, Piers?
00:47:25Yeah, you can still see that little patch on the front left tyre of Slater.
00:47:29Flat spot from where he locked up on the entry to turn a bunker last time out.
00:47:33That's why his lap went away.
00:47:34But there may well be an echo of that mistake on the final runs in this qualifying session.
00:47:40He'll hope he can drive around.
00:47:41You can see just on the right-hand side of the shot there, the little patch on that right tyre.
00:47:45He'll be able to feel that through the steering.
00:47:46It'll vibrate and won't exactly give you confidence.
00:47:48But Slater looks like he's pushing once again.
00:47:51He's taking a different line to many drivers through that first corner.
00:47:54A lot of drivers choosing to go over the curve, shorten the line, keep the apex speed high.
00:47:58But Slater going round, potentially prioritising a higher minimum speed with more control as we head through turn two.
00:48:04And now we're down towards turn four.
00:48:06This is another corner where curbs are important.
00:48:07Stromstead in the pit lane as well.
00:48:09Not too sure why that is.
00:48:10There's Slater once again through that chicane.
00:48:13You can see Gerding a little bit loose, but he's two and a half tenths up on Clairo.
00:48:17He only had himself to beat through the first sector.
00:48:20That tells the story in itself.
00:48:21He's yellow, but still two and a half tenths up on our current pole side.
00:48:24So that's not his best first sector.
00:48:26And he's still nearly two and a half tenths clear.
00:48:28That's how strong Slater has been through the second sector.
00:48:30But it's the middle and last where Slater has had things unravel on the previous laps.
00:48:35It looks pretty tidy so far.
00:48:36Hopefully we stay with Slater for now because he's the only one improving other than Tappanen at this stage and
00:48:41La Corte.
00:48:42Yeah, Tappanen, 35-2 for him as Slater coming through towards the end of the second sector.
00:48:49Now, let's see where this is in comparison to Pedro Clero as he comes towards the end of the second
00:48:55sector.
00:48:56It's very close.
00:48:57Ugachuku currently in P2 will want to be ahead of his championship rival because he will have work to do
00:49:04in the races tomorrow.
00:49:05And he's backing off.
00:49:06He's aborted the lap.
00:49:07Yeah, lap aborted.
00:49:08So he's clearly decided that it wasn't good enough this stage.
00:49:10We'll save a bit more of that tyre life.
00:49:13But later in the lab, look who's purple.
00:49:14Bottom right.
00:49:15Ugachuku, the man that's hoping to take the title away.
00:49:18Take the lead away by the end of the weekend from Slater, who we were just watching.
00:49:21But in the meantime, pushing on hard, Tappanen, the driver that's on good form after last weekend.
00:49:26Confidence from Monza.
00:49:27Again, as we've mentioned, very different challenge, very different car setup, very different feel to Monza as we head over
00:49:33the line.
00:49:33Tappanen close to the wall out the last corner.
00:49:35Out of the final corner, he goes P5.
00:49:37What about Ugachuku?
00:49:38Has come so close to pole position, has been second on five occasions.
00:49:43Up to the line, he goes.
00:49:44Will this be good enough to put Ugachuku to pole?
00:49:46Yes, it does.
00:49:48Ugo Ugachuku, second place in the championship.
00:49:51Goes fastest overall.
00:49:53Followed his teammate over the line.
00:49:54Whoa!
00:49:55Pedro Claro.
00:49:57Wow.
00:49:58Coming through turn 20 there.
00:50:01Jumped out of our seats here in the commentary box.
00:50:03Pedro Claro through the final corner.
00:50:06Now, what can he do as he heads over the line?
00:50:07Will this be good enough to take the fastest lap?
00:50:09No.
00:50:10But that was a scare for him.
00:50:12I think that slide that we saw was what cost Claro there because he's only half a tenth away from
00:50:18Ugachuku.
00:50:19In that sector, that final sector, he didn't manage to get as much of an improvement as we've seen from
00:50:23other drivers.
00:50:24So, as much as it was dramatic, it wasn't fast.
00:50:27Alex Powell is looking so quick and, wow, losing the car.
00:50:31As he heads towards turn 20 now, we've got the run down here into the braking zone.
00:50:36This is where we just saw that moment for Claro and Powell also having a bit of a wrestle with
00:50:41that F3 car.
00:50:42Yeah, fighting the wheel was Powell through there but managing to keep it just about in check.
00:50:46It doesn't matter where the steering wheel is pointing as long as the car is going in the right direction
00:50:49at the right speed.
00:50:50As once again, a couple of bites at the steering through the last corner.
00:50:53Alex Powell, where can it put him?
00:50:54Still inside the top 12 but only just.
00:50:57Yeah, it was a very good first sector from him as well.
00:51:0035 flat.
00:51:02That's where he made a lot of the time.
00:51:04Now, oh, Freddie Slater's in the pit lane.
00:51:07Wow, championship leader has come in and has he aborted the whole session?
00:51:12I wonder.
00:51:13Let's have a look back at this.
00:51:14Yeah, we've got a nice shot there with that front right, front left tyre, sorry.
00:51:17But Slater sideways through there.
00:51:19That was on the lap where he was somewhere near.
00:51:22But no, you can see dejection saying, no, that's it.
00:51:24Session's done.
00:51:25I've had enough.
00:51:27Unfortunately, it's going to be a difficult weekend for Slater if he wants to be FIA Formula 3 champion in
00:51:3126.
00:51:32Here's another look at that slide from Clero.
00:51:34That is as close to a crash as you can get, Chris.
00:51:37Wow.
00:51:37He'll enjoy watching that one back.
00:51:39But it might be the moment that costs him pole position over this driver here.
00:51:44And Uga Chukwu is taking full advantage.
00:51:47What a time to get your first pole position if he can stay there.
00:51:51With Freddie Slater now watching from the pit lane,
00:51:54he could see his championship rival, who was P4 in that first qualifying session,
00:52:00now go fastest overall.
00:52:02But one driver who will be keen to stop him is Taito Kato, and he's looking very quick.
00:52:06Taito Kato, one of the only drivers it looks like he's going to try and go again.
00:52:09A lot of kerb differing from Slater's line through there.
00:52:11Slater's been quick through sector one,
00:52:13but Kato was fastest of all in the first qualifying session overall.
00:52:17DRS open.
00:52:18This is going to be good to watch, Chris.
00:52:19He's been on the absolute limit all day.
00:52:22Yeah, this is the time where you leave everything out there now.
00:52:26This is the final runs of qualifying here today.
00:52:29Taito Kato now heading up towards the bunker.
00:52:34It's looking good.
00:52:34Big climb up here.
00:52:35Very easy to lock the brakes here.
00:52:37And Taito Kato only just slower than Uga Chukwu.
00:52:40Half a tenth away.
00:52:41He can claw that back.
00:52:42Kato's been impressive through the middle sector,
00:52:44where he's been so close to the wall.
00:52:45Fully committed.
00:52:46He heads through the section of the start of the second sector.
00:52:5010-11.
00:52:50Sliding his way through 11.
00:52:51We head into La Monumental.
00:52:53Actually, one of the easier corners on the circuit for these Formula 3 drivers.
00:52:56It's just about minimizing the bottoming out of the car and minimizing steering angle.
00:53:00We head downhill.
00:53:01Big braking zone.
00:53:02Taito Kato into the end of the second sector he goes.
00:53:05Looks pretty clean so far.
00:53:06Out to track limits.
00:53:07Tapanen also going quick through the first sector.
00:53:10As is Brando Baduwe.
00:53:12He's just put in a very good first sector.
00:53:14Pedro Klero is gone purple through the first sector.
00:53:17Whoa!
00:53:18Big lock up from Taito Kato.
00:53:20Just about gets it pointed right in the right direction.
00:53:23Somehow stopped the car.
00:53:24Regard as Klero is purple in the first sector.
00:53:26That's the fastest we've seen.
00:53:28He's a man on a mission today as well.
00:53:29Whoa!
00:53:30So close to the wall.
00:53:31This is Klero.
00:53:32What can he do?
00:53:32He's so, so quick.
00:53:33Right out to the exit.
00:53:34We're coming to the middle sector now, Chris.
00:53:36He just missed out on pole position by less than a tenth of a second in the first run.
00:53:42Can Pedro Klero go and get his first pole position?
00:53:45He's just a few corners away and he's going quicker.
00:53:47This is literally nip and tuck.
00:53:49Centimetres will be the difference both in terms of overall distance but also margins to the wall.
00:53:54Klero, that's about as close to track limits as you can get.
00:53:57We'll have to have a look back at that into the final sector now, Chris.
00:53:59It's going to be so close.
00:54:01A rear lock-up.
00:54:02Once again, scrappy through turn number 20.
00:54:05And Tapanen has gone fastest to take pole position away from Ugachuku.
00:54:101.49.7 to the final corner for Pedro Klero.
00:54:14What can he do through here?
00:54:15As he's like, oh, and he's into the wall.
00:54:17Pedro Klero looked on track to take pole position and Ernesto Rivera behind doing a good job to avoid the
00:54:24Brazilian driver.
00:54:26And Pedro Klero, big accident coming into the final corner.
00:54:29He was giving it absolutely everything but pushed too hard into that final corner.
00:54:34Oh, Klero, so close to brilliance but he pushed one too many times.
00:54:39The last corner, he had just had to just get through one more corner.
00:54:43He was pushing to the absolute limit, had a big snap of oversteer, kept his foot in.
00:54:47But that's going to allow Tuka Tapanen kind of out of nowhere.
00:54:50I don't think he was exceptional in any sector.
00:54:53In fact, he's not purple in any sector at all but managed to put the lap together when it counted.
00:54:58Tuka Tapanen right up there.
00:55:00Klero, disappointment, third for now.
00:55:03But also may well have that lap time removed, hasn't he?
00:55:06Well, there's not been a red flag.
00:55:08So with that, if it stays yellow, then I think he might get away with it.
00:55:14Let's have a look back at the instant first.
00:55:15Yeah, we're going to catch the second half of it.
00:55:17So he's already sideways at that point in the corner.
00:55:19Tapanen carried so much speed into the last corner.
00:55:21Rivera did well to avoid him, actually.
00:55:24Yeah, and then when there's a wall there, Chris, it's very unforgiving.
00:55:28Yeah, good driving behind, I'd say, from Rivera to avoid that one.
00:55:33Here's another look.
00:55:34Yeah.
00:55:36Just committed.
00:55:37Really committed as we've seen Klero all day.
00:55:39He just wanted it so badly, didn't he, Chris?
00:55:41We saw, he said, well, he was gesturing to the camera
00:55:44of the first part of qualifying, 12,000ths it was.
00:55:47But Tapanen was the man in this second session.
00:55:49This mean that you are for position.
00:55:51Good job.
00:55:53Very good job.
00:55:54Amazing.
00:55:55Very good.
00:55:58Tapanen may be ninth in the championship,
00:56:00but with the qualifying performances he's had,
00:56:03he could be a driver to go and push for third place in the championship.
00:56:08It's that close in the battle between the drivers,
00:56:11third down to 13th,
00:56:13and that's the second pole position of the season
00:56:16for Tuka Tapanen having taken pole at Hungary.
00:56:19Kampos there watching on.
00:56:22Well, it's been a good session still for Ugochukwu, P4 and P2.
00:56:25He set himself up very nicely for a championship attack.
00:56:28Yeah, absolutely.
00:56:29I think, I think, we're looking at Kampos now.
00:56:32They'll be happy with him.
00:56:34I think it's Niall.
00:56:35They may be disappointed in because he looked on for a good lad.
00:56:37And Rivera, I think, was actually improving as well, wasn't he?
00:56:40And he had to back out in that last corner.
00:56:41Yeah.
00:56:43We are at P2, 0.02 on the pole, which is Tapanen.
00:56:48The slider is T8.
00:56:49Okay.
00:56:53So, another second place for Ugochukwu.
00:56:56Six he's had now in qualifying sessions in Formula 3.
00:57:00Incredibly consistent when it comes to qualifying Ugochukwu,
00:57:03and that's really helped him throughout the season in fighting for the championship.
00:57:07But Freddie Slater, well, we go from one to the other there.
00:57:12Ugochukwu, it's been such a good day for him.
00:57:14A big disappointment for Slater, but eighth place in the end in that session.
00:57:18And that crash actually might have worked slightly in his favor
00:57:21because there were some drivers on for improvements.
00:57:24Yeah, you can see in the body language of Slater there.
00:57:26I said a week ago in Monza that Ugochukwu was going to be hoping to wake up
00:57:31from the bad dream that he was having.
00:57:33Today, roles reverse, Slater is going to be going to bed tonight thinking,
00:57:37what went wrong?
00:57:38Well, and he had a wheel detach, didn't he, at Monza in the feature race there as well,
00:57:42which brought that one to an end.
00:57:43And this is Clairo, big snap, and that sent him straight into the barrier.
00:57:49Big collision in the end.
00:57:50Small error, big consequences for Clairo there,
00:57:53but that is the fine margins on a street circuit,
00:57:55and why we have street circuits and we like them.
00:57:57Clairo so close to pole both times
00:58:01and still finding peace of mind, presence of mind,
00:58:04to give the fans a wave as well.
00:58:07But Freddie Slater, how does he come back from this now?
00:58:10Now, down 17th in Q1, he'll be 17th for the first two races,
00:58:15and then P8 for the next one.
00:58:17Suboptimal indeed.
00:58:18Yeah.
00:58:19He's got a lot to do, that's for sure.
00:58:21The championship fight has just been given
00:58:24an incredibly dramatic twist in these qualifying sessions.
00:58:29Let's recap the result then from this second qualifying session.
00:58:34As ever, results provisional,
00:58:35but Tuka Tappanen going fastest overall.
00:58:381.49.7 to take his second pole of the season.
00:58:41Ugachuku will be on the front row in a feature race once again.
00:58:44Clairo in third, then Kato.
00:58:46Konagi, great qualifying for him.
00:58:48Likewise, from De Ligny as well then.
00:58:50GST, Slater, David, and Rivera.
00:58:53Yevon David really coming in form towards the end of the season.
00:58:56Badouair next, and Powell, great performance from Alex Powell.
00:58:59Teofield, Niall, then Nakamura, Yamakashi,
00:59:02McLaughlin, Del Pino, Wharton, Stromsted, and Di Paolo.
00:59:07Rounding out the top 20.
00:59:10Jose Garfias, 21st, and Kanata Lee.
00:59:12Maciej Guadish, Nicola LaCorte, Michael Shin.
00:59:15Nicolo Maccagnani having his first run in the F3 car today.
00:59:20Then Barrichello and Viram Bhakti.
00:59:23Well, that is all for qualifying.
00:59:26We have now set the grid for all three races to conclude the 2026 Formula 3 season.
00:59:32We will start with the 16-lap sprint race at 5 past 11.
00:59:38Make sure you join us then for now from myself, Chris McCarthy, and Piers Pryor.
00:59:42It's goodbye.
00:59:45.
00:59:45.
00:59:45.
00:59:45МУЗЫКАЛЬНАЯ ЗАСТАВКА
01:00:18МУЗЫКАЛЬНАЯ ЗАСТАВКА
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