F3 title contender Doohan takes Sochi pole after transponder issue

Once qualifying ended, Trident teammate Clement Novalak was on pole position ahead of Doohan, but issues with the timing in Russia has meant some changes to the order.

With Doohan on pole, points leader Dennis Hauger is down in ninth place, in what was a tricky session for the Prema driver.

With Trident locking out the front row of the grid, Hoggard enjoyed his best qualifying of the season in third.

Frederik Vesti was fourth ahead of Juan Manuel Correa in the second ART car, while Lorenzo Colombo had a strong qualifying for Campos.

Next up was Alexander Smolyar, Caio Collet, with Hauger and Jak Crawford completing the top 10 in Sochi.

Logan Sargeant and Victor Martins will share the front row for the first sprint race.

The session was briefly red-flagged after Jonny Edgar lost control of his Carlin in the middle sector.

Edgar will start this afternoon’s sprint race from the back of the grid.

Change in the schedule

Formula 3 announced due to the heavy rain forecast for Saturday, race one has been moved to Friday afternoon.

A statement from F3, read: “The FIA Formula 3 Race 1 at the Sochi Autodrom has been re-scheduled to today, Friday, 24 September 2021, at 5.25pm local time.

“The race was originally planned for tomorrow, Saturday, 25 September, at 8.35pm, but due to an uncertain weather forecast, the decision has been made to bring it forward by one day.”