Focus turns to feature race as Gabriele Mini takes Formula 3 pole in Monaco

Gabriele Minì put together a near-perfect lap on the streets of Monaco to claim pole position for the Formula 3 weekend.

The Italian was in the second qualifying group, setting the fastest lap of 1:23.278 in the final seconds of qualifying.

With qualifying split into two groups on the tight street circuit, the Group B was expected to run faster with better track conditions, but drivers struggled to match the pace of the earlier runners.

Minì was the only driver to come close, edging out Group A leader Dino Beganovic.

"It was a really good lap and doing it in Monaco, it feels really special," said the Sicilian.

"Before the last pushing lap, I did a few mistakes on my second last lap, so I was not really happy with it. But on the last lap, if there is a lap where you can take more risks is that one. So I just did so and it went well and I did a really good lap, so really happy with that."

Despite the struggle to find lap time until his final run, the Hitech Pulse-Eight driver said things had run according to plan.

"Knowing the lap time the others have done, you kind of set a lap time for yourself to try and beat."

"In the end, yeah, managing the session, we knew what the plan was going to be, so I just did what me and the team planned before the session and yeah, it worked pretty well."

One advantage for Minì was a previous win and podium at the circuit during his time in the Formula Regional European Series. He is one of a handful of drivers racing here for the second time, while the category makes its debut around the principality, but he downplays the impact of that experience.

"We all had good and bad memories."

"For me, for example, the first year didn't go so well. I just got two points in the whole weekend and last year I also lost the pole position basically on the last lap, and on the last sector especially."

"So yeah, today was a redemption day we can say."

A redemption day indeed, made even sweeter after mechanical issues took the Italian out of the sole practice session on Thursday.

"I think we knew more or less what we needed to do for quali, the things you want to approach in one way and some others that you want to approach in another way."

"Of course [the experience] makes it all easier, but in the end it's the job needs to be done when it matters, which is always hard whether you have experience or not."

Attention now turns to the pair of races in the FIA Formula 3 weekend, with the top 12 drivers reversed for the sprint race on Saturday. Minì is in agreement with the fellow drivers of the top three that the reverse grid will make points on Saturday an insurmountable task.

"Tomorrow will just be about getting experience, getting data and in order to be able to push for the feature race, which is the one where you really get the big points."

"Especially for me, I start in P12. Apart from turn one, there is no real reason to take a big risk since I would have to gain two positions. And we know in Monaco is pretty complicated to do that."

Starting from pole also makes the job easier for the feature race on Sunday.

"I just want to try and get a better start than the others and try to be in front after turn one."

"And then just, I think in Monaco, it's all about not crashing during the race, because it's pretty hard to overtake."

"But yeah, I just want to get an okay start. Maybe try and defend if you have to in turn one, and then just manage the race."

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