Formula Renault 3.5
The second qualifying session was held in the rain. After a few laps getting to grips with the conditions Sam Bird set provisional pole in 2m 20.517s. The British driver led Kevin Magnussen and Alexander Rossi when the session was neutralised to move Lucas Foresti’s car that was stopped on the track.
Nico Müller and Robin Frijns upped the pressure on Bird in this wet session. The Swiss and the Dutchman swapped provisional pole, but Bird got back in front with a lap in 2m 20.007s. He improved to 2m 19.605s when the red flag was hung out again to move several cars off the track. At that moment Sam Bird was in first place in front of Robin Frijns and Jules Bianchi.
In the final laps, Kevin Magnussen made the most of the conditions and repeated his previous day’s feat with his second pole on the trot in 2m 18.733s. Frijns was second quickest giving a 100% rookie front row.
Kevin Magnussen: « After my pole in the dry yesterday, I’m very pleased to have set this pole in the rain. For me pole means a lot even if it doesn’t bring me any points. It’s very important. Yesterday, I wasn’t very lucky in the race so I have to make up for that today. If it rains being on pole gives me a big advantage.”
Robin Frijns: “I couldn’t see anything out there! I didn’t even know my position, first or last, I had no idea. It was impossible to see the braking points and as for grip, forget it! It’s great being on the front row and I’ll have to make a good start. If it rains it’s the type of race where you have to avoid the traps to score points.”
Official Renault Sport Press Release.