Formula Renault 3.5
The drivers were all on wet weather setups for the weekend’s second qualifying session. But if the weather conditions changed the hierarchy did not. Jean-Eric Vergne (Carlin Motorsport) set the pace in front of his team-mate, Robert Wickens.
The drivers tried to up the pace, which led to a few spins including Vergne who put a foot out of bed. Halfway through the session, Daniel Ricciardo (ISR) was on provisional pole with a time of 2m 14.399s in front of Alexander Rossi (Fortec Morotsports) Wickens, Albert Costa (Epic Racing) and Daniil Move (P1 Motorsport).
The track improved towards the end of the session as Vergne proved with a lap in 2m 14.045s. Several drivers pitted to prepare for a final run. Rossi set a 2m 13.956s, but Vergne wasn’t having any. He put in a final flying lap in 2m 13.142s to bag his second pole of the weekend, while his main rival for the title, Robert Wickens fell back to seventh on the grid.
Quotes
Jean-Eric Vergne: “It was like a skating rink out there. I spun twice. With these tyres you’ve got one or two good laps; after that it’s difficult to improve. So you can’t screw up. I’d prefer a dry track this afternoon as in the rain it can all go wrong very quickly!”
Alexander Rossi: “We were quick in the dry and we’re also on the pace in the wet. Yesterday, my race was ruined by a piece of another car which got stuck under the flat bottom. Today, I have to win!”
Official Renault Sport Press Release.