Christian Mansell reaches new high with best Formula 3 qualifying result
Despite being knocked out of the top three by his teammate by just over three-hundredths of a second, Christian Mansell has something to celebrate after earning his best qualifying result in FIA Formula 3 with fourth place at the British Grand Prix.
Christian Mansell (middle) with Pepe Martí and Gabriele Minì in the FIA Formula 3 paddock. (Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images / Formula Motorsport Limited)
The Australian was running in tandem with Spanish teammate Pepe Martí, the pair crossing the line together in the frantic final stages of qualifying to lock out the second row of the grid for Campos Racing.
“Very, very pleased with that,” said Mansell.
“I mean it doesn't get much better than that.”
“I’ve come to a track that I really, really enjoy and have my best ever qualifying result right behind Pepe by really, really not a lot of margin.
“So, I'm really, really pleased with that and couldn't really ask for anything more. In the feature Race, if I’m fourth, I’m fourth. Anything north of that, I’m over the moon.”
Christian Mansell follows teammate Pepe Martí around the Silverstone circuit during FIA Formula 3 qualifying. (Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images / Formula Motorsport Limited)
Martí is very much the team leader in terms of experience and the way the Spanish team operates, with Mansell and fellow Aussie Hugh Barter bringing experience from the Euroformula Open and French F4 series respectively, but taking time to settle in with the spectacle of Formula 3 racing.
The Spaniard looked to be in a promising position for a top-five finish in Austria but speared off the track and returned in ninth, a bittersweet incident for the team as it promoted both Mansell and Barter further into the points in 7th and 8th.
It was still a triple-top-ten finish for the team in Spielberg, and the best results respectively for the Australian duo, now making themselves known as the series heads into the final four Grands Prix weekends.
Now, the attention is on improving that performance in Great Britain.
“Silverstone requires a lot of attention to detail,” said Mansell.
“There are a lot of corners and areas you can mess up, so putting it all together is really important. You just have to send it a little bit to be honest. You’ve got to have a bit of fun; I was having fun and that’s why I was fast.”
“Campos have worked so unbelievably hard to put me, Pepe and Hugh in the position that we’re able to be in. It sounds funny saying this but I’ve definitely matured over the course of the year. On track, it’s been a very steep learning curve to see how you can take it on board and approach things
“My approach from Bahrain to now could not be more different, but in a good way so I’m very happy with that.”
Mansell will start ninth for the reverse-grid sprint race at 6.20pm on Saturday (AEST).
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