Nurburgring European F3: Rosenqvist pips Russell to race one pole

The veteran Swede staved off a challenge from an on-form George Russell to take the top spot in his Prema Powerteam Dallara-Mercedes by 0.152 seconds.

Recent Prema recruit Nick Cassidy looked good for pole with a few minutes remaining, before Rosenqvist set a 1m21.220s to take fastest time with three minutes to go.

Russell - working in tandem with the sister Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen of Red Bull junior Callum Ilott - then chimed in with a 1m21.278s, only for Rosenqvist to improve to 1m21.126s just before the chequered flag.

"There was quite a lot of traffic and mayhem going on," said Rosenqvist, "which is to be expected on this circuit.

"It seems that the rule change [precluding drivers from backing off in search of a clear space] has made things more complicated because you get stuck behind and lose a second a lap.

"So it was quite hard to nail a lap, and you're finding more in your driving than in the peak of your tyre - you just have to do a decent lap and hope for the best, but it's the same for everyone."

Behind 2014 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Russell, who is on the front row for the fourth time this season, Cassidy and Ilott will form the second row, with Jake Dennis making it three English drivers in the top five in his Prema car.

Rosenqvist's main title rivals Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Carlin) will start sixth and seventh.

The remainder of the top 10 is dominated by drivers from German teams, with Mucke Motorsport's Mikkel Jensen taking eighth from Motopark duo Markus Pommer and Sergio Sette Camara.

Meanwhile, Alessio Lorandi will lose his 17th place on the grid with his third trio of 10-place engine-change grid penalties of the season.

The Italian picked up gravel in his radiator in the final race last time out at the Algarve circuit and one of the stones also knocked his radio antenna, putting him out of communication with the Van Amersfoort pit and leading him to continue until the engine was cooked.

RACE ONE QUALIFYING RESULTS: