Ticktum takes provisional Macau GP pole ahead of Ilott

Red Bull junior driver Dan Ticktum took provisional pole for the Macau Grand Prix after edging out Ferrari youngster Callum Ilott in the opening stage of qualifying on Thursday.

2017 Macau Formula 3 race winner Ticktum recorded a fastest lap time of 2m11.004s in the opening 40 minute session at the Guia Circuit, beating GP3 title contender Ilott by one-tenth of a second.

Ticktum and Ilott managed to pull clear of the field as FIA European Formula 3 champion Mick Schumacher finished four-tenths of a second back in third place. The German had topped opening practice earlier in the day, and was the leading Prema driver in qualifying.

Jake Hughes took fourth place for Hitech ahead of Super Formula regular Yuhi Sekiguchi, while Renault-linked youngster Sacha Fenestraz finished sixth for Carlin.

F3 veteran Joel Eriksson took seventh in Q1 ahead of Alex Palou and Ferdinand Habsburg, while Sho Tsuboi completed the top 10.