Bottas grabs maiden pole at Lausitz

The F3 rookie was on top for most of the session, which was held in damp conditions. Title favourite Bianchi was one of the few drivers to ever get ahead of Bottas as track conditions improved, but every time he did the Finn was able to respond to take back the position.

Both drivers took to the track in the last few minutes to have one final push, but a late rain shower prevented anyone from improving at the end.

Christian Vietoris had been set to beat both of the ART cars shortly before the rain came, but his lap was ruined by yellow flags in the third sector due to Basil Shabaan's car being stuck in the gravel after a spin.

By the time the German started his next hot lap, the weather had worsened, and he went off at Turn 3, leaving him 13th on the grid.

Atte Mustonen was another driver to trouble Bottas when the track was at its best, but he had to settle for third, alongside Hockenheim race two winner Jean-Karl Vernay.

The third row will be occupied by Cesar Ramos and Henkie Waldschmidt, while ex-British F3 racers Brendon Hartley and Sam Bird will share row four.

Several frontrunners from the season-opening weekend had disappointing sessions. Championship leader Stefano Coletti could only manage 14th, just behind Roberto Merhi, who he led home in the first race of the year.

Things were even worse for Mika Maki, who will start last. The Finn lost control under braking for the first corner and ploughed into the inside wall, ending his session early.

Pos Driver                    Team          Car    Time         Gap
 1. Valtteri Bottas           ART           D/M    1:31.308
 2. Jules Bianchi             ART           D/M    1:31.725  +0.417
 3. Atte Mustonen             Motopark      D/M    1:32.084  +0.776
 4. Jean-Karl Vernay          Signature     D/V    1:32.188  +0.880
 5. Cesar Ramos               Manor         D/M    1:32.336  +1.028
 6. Henkie Waldschmidt        SG            D/M    1:32.355  +1.047
 7. Brendon Hartley           Carlin        D/V    1:32.363  +1.055
 8. Sam Bird                  Mucke         D/M    1:32.544  +1.236
 9. Tiago Geronimi            Signature     D/V    1:32.565  +1.257
10. Esteban Gutierrez         ART           D/M    1:32.584  +1.276
11. Alexander Sims            Mucke         D/M    1:32.768  +1.460
12. Adrien Tambay             ART           D/M    1:32.925  +1.617
13. Christian Vietoris        Mucke         D/M    1:32.942  +1.634
14. Roberto Merhi             Manor         D/M    1:33.111  +1.803
15. Johnny Cecotto Jr         HBR           D/M    1:33.394  +2.086
16. Stefano Coletti           Prema         D/M    1:33.487  +2.179
17. Marco Wittmann            Mucke         D/M    1:33.549  +2.241
18. Kevin Mirocha             HBR           D/M    1:33.662  +2.354
19. Andrea Caldarelli         SG            D/M    1:33.909  +2.601
20. Matteo Chinosi            Prema         D/M    1:33.944  +2.636
21. Pedro Henrique            Manor         D/M    1:34.215  +2.907
22. Carlo van Dam             Kolles        D/V    1:34.303  +2.995
23. Alexandre Marsoin         SG            D/M    1:34.440  +3.132
24. Christopher Zanella       Motopark      D/M    1:34.454  +3.146
25. Jake Rosenzweig           Carlin        D/V    1:34.910  +3.602
26. Johan Jokinen             Kolles        D/V    1:35.237  +3.929
27. Basil Shaaban             Prema         D/M    1:36.634  +5.326
28. Mika Maki                 Signature     D/V    no time