Dennis Hauger recorded a best time of sixth during Friday’s Formula 2 qualifying in Barcelona.

As such, he also started in the fifth-best starting slot during Saturday’s sprint race, as the top ten quickest finish from qualifying was reversed. However, during Sunday’s main race, he started in sixth position.

– This is a real improvement after the tough qualifying in Monaco. Now he has two good opportunities for points, commented Atle Gulbrandsen on Viaplay.

– There’s the good old Dennis we know. Now he is among the fastest, he added.

Hauger set a best lap time on his ninth, but was unable to hold on to the lead for more than a few minutes as Théo Pourchaire and Enzo Fittipaldi passed him on the leaderboard.

– I pushed the car as much as I could. We may have to wait a bit longer at the depot before driving the final track, but that won’t give the track the best start, said Hauger in a press release and continued:

– 6th place is the goat, now all you have to do is be smart in the race and take care of the tires as best you can.

However, the 20-year-old Norwegian racer said he was satisfied and parked his car at the depot so as not to cause tire wear. Hauger eventually finished sixth, as Ayumu Iwasa, Oliver Bearman, and Jack Doohan were also in front at the end of qualifying.

Bearman set the best lap time and thus started the best starting slot during Sunday’s main race.

Aurskog Hauger kid took his only win of the season in the sprint race in Australia on round three of the WC. He has a total of three Formula 2 wins.

Hauger delivered a weak qualifying in Monaco last weekend. However, he then got a boost when he moved up multiple places in Sunday’s main race.

After qualifying it became known that competitor Théo Pourchare get punished after the maneuvers against Hauger in particular. He should start number nine in the sprint race, not number six. Hauger thus does not benefit from a competitor’s penalty.

(© NTB)