Qualifications – Russia: Alex Lynn Just Ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne

Stoffel Vandoorne can win the GP2 title as early as this weekend. He was counting on the qualifying session to get closer to his goal by securing the points for the best qualifier. He had dominated the free practice sessions, with more than six-tenths of a second ahead of his closest competitor. However, he was narrowly beaten by Alex Lynn in the qualifying session.

The session started on a wet track, left over from the rain that soaked the second F1 practice. Since it was no longer raining, the drivers were able to dry the track and thus improve their times with each lap they completed. Therefore, it was important to try to stay on the track as late as possible.

Thus, it was indeed the Belgian who was leading at mid-session, but Alexander Rossi, back in GP2 after two weekends in F1 with Manor, managed to surpass him. But this was before there was an incredible series of leaders: in turn, we saw the two Frenchmen, Pierre Gasly and Arthur Pic, take the lead, before the American reclaimed his position.

But Alexander Rossi then saw Stoffel Vandoorne pass him again, himself only 38 thousandths behind Alex Lynn. The Williams protégé then decided to cut his effort while the McLaren driver wanted to give himself one last attempt.

However, stuck behind other cars, the Belgian then decided to ease off to give himself some space and not be disturbed in his final attempt. But he crossed the starting line just one second after the checkered flag and therefore couldn’t complete a final timed lap.

One can still think that this small error should not have too many consequences from an accounting standpoint since he is still in an ideal position with regard to the title. On the other hand, the local favorite, Sergei Sirotkin, did not show his usual form and has to settle for 10th place on the grid.