Home News Local hero Sergey Sirotkin takes career-first pole at Moscow Raceway

Local hero Sergey Sirotkin takes career-first pole at Moscow Raceway

by Valentin Khorounzhiy
Photo: Jean Michel Le Meur / DPPI / Renault Sport Media

Photo: Jean Michel Le Meur / DPPI / Renault Sport Media

Fortec’s Sergey Sirotkin impressed the home crowds at Moscow Raceway by taking his first pole position in the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

Sirotkin, who currently sits 12th in the standings after a rough start to the season, was two tenths clear of his rivals.

AVF’s Zoel Amberg led the field at the 30-minute session’s halfway point, but was dethroned by Sirotkin in the final six minutes. The Russian set a sub 1:21 lap with his first attempt on new tyres, which proved good enough for pole as the allotted time expired.

Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly will join Sirotkin on the front row, having managed to vault himself into second under the checkered flag.

Roberto Merhi qualified third, but will start seventh due to a four-place grid penalty. As such, Amberg inherited third place, while Draco’s Pietro Fantin is set to be promoted to the second row alongside him.

Oliver Rowland will start fifth, leading Jazeman Jaafar. Behind Merhi, Oscar Tunjo broke into the top ten in his third qualifying, while Will Stevens and Richie Stanaway made up the fifth row.

Teams’ championship leaders DAMS had a dreadful session, with points leader Carlos Sainz qualifying in 16th and his teammate Norman Nato – in 19th.

Session results
Pos. Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Sergey Sirotkin Fortec Motorsports 1:20.992 15
2 Pierre Gasly Arden Motorsport 1:21.211 0.219 16
3 Zoel Amberg AVF 1:21.269 0.277 15
4 Pietro Fantin International Draco Racing 1:21.304 0.312 16
5 Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports 1:21.372 0.380 15
6 Jazeman Jaafar ISR 1:21.487 0.495 15
7* Roberto Merhi Zeta Corse 1:21.223 0.231 14
8 Oscar Tunjo Pons Racing 1:21.510 0.518 15
9 Will Stevens Strakka Racing 1:21.519 0.527 16
10 Richie Stanaway Lotus 1:21.709 0.717 13
11 Marlon Stockinger Lotus 1:21.761 0.769 15
12 Matias Laine Strakka Racing 1:21.779 0.787 16
13 William Buller Arden Motorsport 1:21.834 0.842 15
14 Beitske Visser AVF 1:21.863 0.871 15
15 Meindert van Buuren Pons Racing 1:21.888 0.896 14
16 Carlos Sainz DAMS 1:21.895 0.903 15
17 Luca Ghiotto International Draco Racing 1:21.992 1.000 15
18 Marco Sorensen Tech 1 Racing 1:22.088 1.096 15
19 Norman Nato DAMS 1:22.104 1.112 17
20 Roman Mavlanov Zeta Corse 1:22.276 1.284 18

* – grid drop of four places