Dorian Boccolacci claimed his and MP Motorsport’s first GP3 pole position as he led a French 1-2-3 on home soil at Paul Ricard.
Championship leader Anthoine Hubert had looked set for top spot after a time of 1:50.697, as Giuliano Alesi’s challenge wilted in the final sector, running wide through Bendor.
Alesi wound up just 0.011s shy of demoting Hubert, but both were usurped by a last-gasp effort from Boccolacci, who clocked a time of 1:50.615.
Force India development driver Nikita Mazepin was fourth, with Leonardo Pulcini fifth, and ex-Red Bull junior Niko Kari sixth.
Ferrari protégé Callum Ilott was seventh for ART, as Alessio Lorandi, Pedro Piquet and Joey Mawsoun rounded out the top 10.
Debutant Christian Lundgaard was 11th while Jake Hughes endured another troublesome session, taking only 12th in the fourth of the ART-run machines.
