"Couldn't ask for more" - Rafael Câmara secures first pole of FIA Formula 3 season

MELBOURNE–Brazilian rookie Rafael Câmara said he "couldn't ask for more" after qualifying on pole position for the FIA Formula 3 season opener in Melbourne.

Earlier, the 19-year-old had posted the fastest time in practice, before leading a 1-2 finish for Trident in qualifying ahead of teammate Noah Strømsted.

The Brazilian was on track to set the fastest time in the early stages with two purple sectors before catching traffic at the end of his lap.

Câmara made the most of a brief quiet period mid-session to set the fastest lap of 1:34.999, with the session then interrupted as Brando Badoer hit the barriers on the exit of turn two, bringing out the red flag.

The session resumed briefly before another red flag as Christian Ho stopped on the track in his DAMS Lucas Oil car.

Câmara's time stood, putting the young Brazilian on pole for his Formula 3 debut.

"I think it was a really good start for the championship," said Câmara.

"Obviously still a long way to go. Always nice to be in P1 but still two races to go, Saturday and Sunday, and obviously just the first race of the championship."

"So we keep focusing, head down and keep pushing and working hard.”

The result puts him twelfth on the grid for the reverse-grid sprint race on Saturday, something the Brazilian is already strategising for.

"I'm very excited for tomorrow, starting from P12 will be not easy race," he said after on Friday night.

"I just need to be consistent, calm, don't be too aggressive, because it’s a long way to go."

"I just want to score points for the races and be there. It's always nice to win, but sometimes better to finish a bit behind rather than crash. So for the moment, I will just keep it clean and focus for this long championship."

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