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Leclerc quickest again as Valencia F3 test concludes

by Peter Allen
written by Peter Allen
Charles Leclerc

Photo: FIA F3 European Championship/Thomas Suer

Charles Leclerc remained on top in the final session of the FIA F3 European Championship test at Valencia on Wednesday afternoon.

With the track drying and times improving as the afternoon went on, the Monegasque rookie claimed top spot with his final effort, 1m29.534s. That was seven seconds faster than his benchmark in the morning.

His fellow standout rookie George Russell was second fastest, 0.482s adrift, while single-seater newcomer Callum Ilott completed the top three, just over a second off the pace.

Gustavo Menezes and Tuesday pace-setter Antonio Giovinazzi made it four Carlin drivers inside the top six, sandwiching Signature’s Alex Albon.

Maximilian Gunther was the quickest of the Mercedes-powered drivers in seventh ahead of another Carlin driver Sean Gelael. Mucke’s Santino Ferrucci was ninth, while West-Tec’s sole entry Fabian Schiller was again in the top ten.

Prema opted to do relatively limited running, meaning the best of their four drivers was Brandon Maisano in 27th place, seven seconds off the pace.

Afternoon session results
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Charles Leclerc Van Amersfoort Racing 1:29.534 50
2 George Russell Carlin 1:30.016 0.482 45
3 Callum Ilott Carlin 1:30.588 1.054 53
4 Gustavo Menezes Carlin 1:30.645 1.111 32
5 Alex Albon Signature 1:30.838 1.304 40
6 Antonio Giovinazzi Carlin 1:31.064 1.530 33
7 Maximilian Gunther Mucke Motorsport 1:31.099 1.565 37
8 Sean Gelael Carlin 1:31.205 1.671 53
9 Santino Ferrucci Mucke Motorsport 1:31.320 1.786 36
10 Fabian Schiller West-Tec 1:31.654 2.120 57
11 Alessio Lorandi Van Amersfoort Racing 1:31.964 2.430 55
12 Ryan Tveter Carlin 1:32.022 2.488 45
13 Markus Pommer Motopark 1:32.318 2.784 47
14 Matt Solomon Double R Racing 1:32.553 3.019 63
15 Nicolas Beer Eurointernational 1:32.570 3.036 58
16 Michele Beretta Mucke Motorsport 1:32.703 3.169 38
17 Tatiana Calderon Carlin 1:33.114 3.580 45
18 Matt Rao Fortec Motorsports 1:33.260 3.726 51
19 Mikkel Jensen Mucke Motorsport 1:33.505 3.971 34
20 Sam MacLeod Motopark 1:33.602 4.068 31
21 Pietro Fittipaldi Fortec Motorsports 1:33.667 4.133 42
22 Sergio Sette Camara Motopark 1:33.890 4.356 42
23 Peter Li Fortec Motorsports 1:33.932 4.398 34
24 Arjun Maini Van Amersfoort Racing 1:34.200 4.666 46
25 Nicolas Pohler Double R Racing 1:34.490 4.956 53
26 Mahaveer Raghunathan Motopark 1:35.227 5.693 25
27 Brandon Maisano Prema Powerteam 1:36.849 7.315 19
28 Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam 1:36.927 7.393 22
29 Dorian Boccolacci Signature 1:37.033 7.499 43
30 Kang Ling Mucke Motorsport 1:37.274 7.740 43
31 Felix Rosenqvist Prema Powerteam 1:37.417 7.883 13
32 Jake Dennis Prema Powerteam 1:37.784 8.250 13
33 Julio Moreno T-Sport 1:38.887 9.353 30
34 Nabil Jeffri Motopark 1:39.845 10.311 15