Nirei Fukuzumi has been handed pole position for this afternoon’s Race 1 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza after this morning’s qualifying session was cancelled due to track conditions: the grid will be formed using yesterday’s free practice times, with the Japanese driver to line up ahead of ART Grand Prix teammates George Russell, Anthoine Hubert and Jack Aitken.

Heavy rain greeted the teams as they took their place in the pitlane: an early message advised that the session was delayed due to the conditions, and following a review by the track officials the call was made to cancel the session due to the excessive standing water and continuing rain.

As there is no time available between now and the race, qualifying could not be rescheduled: accordingly the grid will be formed from the classifications of free practice.

Behind the ART teammates Dorian Boccolacci, Steijn Schothorst, Leonardo Pulcini, Arjun Maini, Alessio Lorandi and new driver Dan Ticktum round out the top ten. Race 1 is set to take place today at 17.50 local time.

Fukuzumi noted: “Normally I want to get pole position in qualifying, but the conditions are quite bad for driving now. For the race it is a good opportunity for us to start from P1, and it is good for the Japanese fans with Nobuharu-san also in P1 from yesterday: I am used to racing in the rain from Japan, and I will look for a good result.”

Free Practice/Qualifying Classification

Driver

Team

Laptime

Laps

Nirei Fukuzumi

ART Grand Prix

1:38.594

17

George Russell

ART Grand Prix

1:38.693

18

Anthoine Hubert

ART Grand Prix

1:38.776

19

Jack Aitken

ART Grand Prix

1:38.786

19

Dorian Boccolacci

Trident

1:38.933

21

Steijn Schothorst

Arden International

1:38.963

20

Leonardo Pulcini

Arden International

1:38.971

19

Arjun Maini

Jenzer Motorsport

1:39.033

21

Alessio Lorandi

Jenzer Motorsport

1:39.148

17

Daniel Ticktum

DAMS

1:39.232

20

Marcos Siebert

Campos Racing

1:39.298

20

Juan-Manuel Correa

Jenzer Motorsport

1:39.470

20

Giuliano Alesi

Trident

1:39.518

22

Niko Kari

Arden International

1:39.565

18

Raoul Hyman

Campos Racing

1:39.776

20

Bruno Baptista

DAMS

1:39.860

17

Ryan Tveter

Trident

1:39.923

22

Julien Falchero

Campos Racing

1:39.968

19

Tatiana Calderon

DAMS

1:40.411

18

Kevin Jörg

Trident

1:41.112

20