Negrão clinches 4th place in Race 1

Great pace and consistency were the key to a stunning performance by André Negrão in the first race of the F.Renault 3.5 Le Castellet weekend. After posting the seventh quickest time in the morning qualifying session, the Brazilian driver boasted a lightning-quick start from 4th row in the race, climbing as high as P3 in the first few corners.

André Negrao

Photo by: DPPI

Nico Muller meanwhile, had a less satisfying race: after a stunning performance in Qualifying that saw him post the 4th quickest time, the Swiss talent stalled his car at the start of the warm-up lap and had to start from the pits, in last place. Despite that Muller still gave his best and drove an amazing race, recovering from P25 to 11th place, just shy of a points finish.

André Negrão (Q1 - P7; R1 - P4): 
"After the issues we had yesterday in Free Practice 2, for this morning's Qualifying we went back to the setup we used in FP1 and the car immediately got better. That allowed me to qualify quite well, and then in the race I just managed a great start from Row 4. I climbed up to P3 before being passed again by Vandoorne, and from then on I just settled for 4th place, as my pace was quick enough to follow Stoffel but not to try and pass him. I'm very happy with what we did today, now I hope we can build up on this tomorrow".

Nico Muller (Q1 - P4; R1 - P11): "I was really happy after such a good qualifying, and I was ready to deliver in Race 1. Unluckily, at the start of the warm-up lap my car stalled as soon as I entered first gear, even if I was holding the clutch. I don't know why it happened, but I was forced to start from the pits, dead last. Considering that ending in P11 is an achievement, but our race could have been much better if we started from the P4 we earned this morning".

Draco Racing