In the final qualifying session of the 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, the duo Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam) and Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam) dominated proceedings.

At the 4.574 kilometres long Hockenheimring, the Brit also turned out to be unbeatable in second qualifying, having already claimed first place in first qualifying earlier in the afternoon.

Second place went to Günther, followed by Guanyu Zhou (Prema Powerteam), Jake Hughes (Hitech Grand Prix) and Pedro Piquet (Van Amersfoort Racing).

In the ranking of the second-fastest laps, used to determine the starting grid positions for the third race of a weekend, Günther secured first place from Ilott, Zhou, Hughes and Joel Eriksson (Motopark). Lando Norris (Carlin) had to make do with grid positions seven for the 29th race of the season and six for the 30th race.

Starting grid race two

It took a few minutes before all the drivers went out for qualifying. Halfway through the session, Jake Hughes (1m32.083s) was on top while points’ leader Lando Norris (1m32.163s) was listed in ninth place. Only one minute later, the Brit, who is supported by the McLaren Formula 1 team, was the new leader. However, he wasn’t able to increase his pace in the same way some of his rivals were and therefore was no longer in contention for the top position. Eventually, it was Ilott (1m31.685s) who claimed first place and demoted Günther (1m31.956s) to second. Guanyu Zhou (1m31.967s) and Jake Hughes only moved up into the top positions in the final stages and concluded the session in third and fourth place respectively. Pedro Piquet (1m32.090s) and Joel Eriksson (1m32.135s) also ended up ahead of Lando Norris. Tadasuke Makino (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m32.203), Nikita Mazepin (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m32.215s) and Ralf Aron (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m32.246s) rounded out the top ten.

Starting grid race three

In the ranking of the second-fastest laps, Maximilian Günther (1m31.961s) was unbeatable. This time, it was Callum Ilott (1m31.974s) who slotted in behind him. Zhou (1m32.112s), Hughes (1m32.133s), Eriksson (1m32.143s), Norris (1m32.194s), Makino (1m32.308s), Mazepin (1m32.329s), Piquet (1m32.353s) and Aron (1m32.376s) ended up in third to tenth place behind the Prema duo.

Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam): “While some of the others made two attempts in this session, we only did one run. From the very beginning, the car handled well and the tyres reached their working temperature more quickly than in first qualifying. Then I expected them to stay at this high grip level for a longer time than they actually did. On my second-fastest lap, I ended up behind some others and then the tyres already started to degrade slightly.”

Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam): “This qualifying went well from our perspective, I was able to claim first and second place. Of course, this is nice after first qualifying was a rather difficult affair for me. In this session, I had more confidence in my car. Together with first and second place for Callum Ilott and a pair of third places for Guanyu Zhou, we also have scored a good team result in second qualifying. That shows that we are fighting until the end and that we aren’t giving up.”

This weekend, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship makes its final stop of the 2017 season at Hockenheim’s 4.574-kilometre long circuit, traditionally the venue of the series’ season finale.

So far, the 2017 season featured extremely close racing and many thrilling races and at the moment the battle for all three titles is still open.

Prior to the final three races this weekend, the British McLaren junior Lando Norris (Carlin) has the most promising chances of winning the drivers’ and the rookie championship titles, with Prema Powerteam being the favourite in the fight for the team championship.

Lando Norris and Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam) are the protagonists in the duel for the title of 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Champion.

These two young drivers are the only ones who can still make it to the top of the championship ranking, thus following in the footsteps of Canada’s Lance Stroll who moved up to Formula One this year.

17-year old Norris from Glastonbury, Southern England, travels to the German F1 circuit with a 72-point lead over Maximilian Günther. To clinch the title, the German has to win all three races, with Norris scoring a maximum of two points, over the course of the weekend.

The situation in the battle for the rookie title is even clearer. Here, Norris does not have to score a single point while his last rival, Jehan Daruvala (Carlin), must finish as best rookie in all three races. Only then, Norris would be beaten.

Meanwhile, the fight for the second position in the drivers’ championship standings is closer. Here, Sweden’s Joel Eriksson (Motopark) follows just six points behind Günther and also Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam) still has a chance to become second. In the team ranking Carlin is the only team which could still prevent defending champions Prema Powerteam to claim the title again in 2017.

At the same time, the fans will not only look forward to watching the championship decisions unfold but also to three entertaining races.

At a circuit that provides several overtaking opportunities, the four Germans in particular want to use the opportunity to shine in front of their home crowd. These drivers are – in addition to Günther – Mick Schumacher (Prema Powerteam), David Beckmann (Motopark) and Keyvan Andres (Motopark).

Schumacher and Andres will contest their first FIA Formula 3 European Championship races at Hockenheim while Beckmann already secured a podium in last year’s season finale.

Lando Norris (Carlin): “I am really looking forward to the finale at Hockenheim. Last year, I contested my first FIA Formula 3 European Championship races there and I like the circuit. My goal for the final race meeting of the year is the same as for the other nine race weekends: I want to win all three races. Furthermore I’d love to clinch the title in the first race and mathematically it’s possible to do so."

"The first step on the way winning the race is a good performance in the first qualifying session and I’m convinced that we have got what it takes to battle it out for pole. I already was quick at Hockenheim in 2016 and Carlin provided me with a fast and reliable car throughout the season. But should I fail to put it on pole, Hockenheim provides several overtaking possibilities."

Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam): “I am looking forward to the finale as I love to race at Hockenheim. Furthermore, I have fond memories of this race venue. I know that my title chances aren’t exactly promising but I will nonetheless give it my very best and will – like always – focus on my own performance."

"No matter how the fight for the title will end, I want to shine by securing several good results in the season finale - if possible with three wins."

Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam, 1m31.646s) already having been fastest in free practice, the Brit also turned out to be unbeatable in qualifying of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

Ilott’s compatriot Lando Norris (Carlin, 1m31.805s), points’ leader in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship standings and therefore the main favourite for the title, ended up second from Swede Joel Eriksson (Motopark, 1m31.811s) and Jehan Daruvala (Carlin, 1m31.853s) from India.

German Maximilian Günther (Prema Powerteam, 1m32.075s), the last remaining rival for Norris in the battle for the title, had to make do with twelfth place. Qualifying turned into a duel, in which Lando Norris and Callum Ilott battled for first place.

The two continuously alternated in the lead until the more experienced Ilott eventually came out on top and was classified first ahead of rookie driver Norris.

Ilott may no longer have a chance of winning the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title, but he still is in a position to topple Maximilian Günther from second place in the drivers’ standings. Next to Ilott, BMW junior driver Joel Eriksson is also still in contention for second place in the final drivers’ standings. The Swede got himself into a good position in first qualifying while Maximilian Günther, who is currently holding second place in the standings, concluded qualifying in twelfth position.

Fourth place in qualifying went to Jehan Daruvala, the last remaining rival for McLaren junior driver Norris in the battle for the title of best rookie.

The Indian, who is backed by the Force India Formula 1 team, demoted his team-mate Ferdinand Habsburg (Carlin, 1m31.914s) to fifth. Honda protégé Tadasuke Makino (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m31.915s), Pedro Piquet (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1m31.930s), Jake Hughes (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m31.935s), Force India protégé Nikita Mazepin (Hitech Grand Prix, 1m31.989s) and Ferrari junior driver Guanyu Zhou (Prema Powerteam, 1m32.015s) rounded out the top ten.

Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam): “The second free practice was very good already. For qualifying, we didn’t make many changes on the car and it worked pretty well again. Throughout the session, it has been quite close, but on the final lap, I was able to improve once more. I am very happy with first place and I hope to continue like this in the next sessions.”

Joel Eriksson (Motopark) already having won the 26th race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season, he also won the 27th race of the year a few hours later.

At the Red Bull Ring, he came out on top after a battle with Lando Norris (Carlin) that lasted many laps. In a spectacular final stage, Nikita Mazepin (Hitech Grand Prix) secured second place from Tadasuke Makino (Hitech Grand Prix).

While the Honda backed Japanese scored his maiden podium finish in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, points’ leader Lando Norris retired after an accident on the final lap. As his only remaining title rival Maximilian Günther (Prema Powertaeam) finished fifth, the battle for the title remains open until the season finale at Hockenheim.

At the start, Joel Eriksson already made it clear that he wanted to score his second race win of the day. He took the lead from Lando Norris, but wasn’t able to pull clear from the charging Brit. Norris tried everything to overtake the Swede, but didn’t succeed.

On lap 19, the McLaren junior driver ran into the rear of the BMW protégé’s car and lost the right front wing endplate of his car as a result of the contact. Following that incident, he had to let Eriksson pull away, after which the Swede drove an undisputed victory home.

"This race was harder than the one earlier today. I started with four used tyres while Lando Norris had two new ones." Said Erilsson

"My start was good and I was first, but then had to defend my position from Lando. I succeeded and led throughout the race. Just before the end, Lando drove into the back of my car."

"Before that, I had a bad exit of turn three while his exit was very good. He swerved to the left and to the right behind me and then drove into the back. Fortunately, there wasn’t any damage on my car so that I was able to make it to the finish without any major problems."

"I am still in a position to become runner-up in the championship, but I am not looking at that. I am happy to be back on the top step of the podium and above all, I want to have fun during the finale." He concluded

Behind Eriksson, Norris had to defend his second place in the closing stages against Ralf Aron (Hitech Grand Prix), until the two young drivers collided and retired on the final lap. Ferdinand Habsburg (Carlin) was second across the line, but the only Austrian in the field previously had exceeded the track limits which resulted in a five second time penalty. Thus, second place went to Nikita Mazepin and third to Tadasuke Makino. All that, only an unsatisfying fourth place was left for Habsburg.

After the action-packed final stage, Maximilian Günther was classified fourth which brought the German ten points.

Thus, he reduced his gap to championship leader Lando Norris to 72 points and therefore he still has a mathematical chance of winning the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title. Jehan Daruvala (Carlin), Joey Mawson (Van Amersfoort Racing), Mick Schumacher (Prema Powerteam), David Beckmann (Motopark) and Marino Sato (Motopark) rounded out the top ten. For the Japanese rookie driver, this was his first point for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings.