Armstrong to start a lowly 19th in disappointing F2 qualifying

Marcus Armstrong has slumped to 19^th in a disappointing Formula 2 qualifying session as the young Kiwi continues to struggle to find pace at Silverstone.

Armstrong’s ART teammate Christian Lungaard meanwhile fell just one-tenth shy of Ferrari Junior Callum Ilott who become the first repeat polesitter of 2020.

Lundgaard was on provisional pole until the final timed runs with Ilott seemingly nowhere after his opening stint and was sat down in 12^th.

But the Brit then managed to unlock a mammoth six-tenths around the 5.8km circuit to usurp Lundgaard at the head of the field in the dying stages of the session before resisting any late charges to ensure he claimed his second pole position of the season.

His pole position was aided when Sean Gelael spun his DAMS at Copse which brought out a local yellow and denied several drivers the opportunity to improve on their lap times.

Ilott had qualified on the front row for last weekend’s feature race at the circuit but was compelled to take the start from the pitlane after stalling on the formation lap.

Series rookie Lundgaard will start ahead of Williams F1 reserve driver Jack Aitken who snared his best qualifying result of the year in third. Dan Ticktum, who scored his maiden F2 victory last weekend, will complete the second row of the grid in fourth. 

Nullifying Armstrong’s woeful time at Silverstone is the fact championship leader Robert Shwartzman is having a similarly shaky period and could only muster 11^th fastest in qualifying.

The opening F2 race of the weekend will take place after Formula 1 qualifying at 2.40 am NZT.