As this Formula 2 Qualifying session will determine the grid for both the Sprint race and the Feature race, Dino Beganovic ultimately secured pole position for the Round 1 in Australia. The opening Qualifying session of the Formula 2 season delivered an intense last-minute battle for pole position at Albert Park as drivers fought constantly evolving track conditions and several interruptions.
Early in the session, most teams elected to send their drivers out immediately to warm up the tyres as soon as possible. As the field circulated, lap times began to drop rapidly as drivers built tyre temperature.
Several drivers briefly appeared near the top of the timing screens during the opening minutes, with small margins separating much of the field.
Early running cut short by red flag
As drivers began setting their representative lap times, several track limits penalties were already being handed out, highlighting how difficult it was to maximise performance around the temporary street circuit. Mari Boya initially placed himself near the front before falling down the order as others improved their times.
Shortly afterwards, Nikola Tsolov moved to the top of the timing screens with a strong lap of 1:29.381, placing the Campos Racing driver on provisional pole. However, moments later the session was disrupted when Mari Boya made contact with the wall, bringing out the first red flag of the session.
The Spaniard’s incident forced race control to temporarily halt qualifying while marshals recovered the car. As a consequence of the crash, Boya will start both races from the back of the grid.
Once the Formula 2 Qualifying session resumed, drivers quickly returned to the track with around 20 minutes remaining on the clock. However, not all competitors were able to immediately rejoin the action. Gabriele Minì encountered difficulties starting his car in the pit lane, leaving the Italian temporarily stuck while the rest of the field continued to improve their lap times.
Despite the interruptions, the opening runs established an early order, although the gaps between drivers remained extremely tight, with only a few tenths separating a large portion of the field.
Formula 2 Qualifying sees further interruptions
With 15 minutes left of the Formula 2 Qualifying session, drivers went back into the pits to prepare for their final runs. At this stage, Nikola Tsolov remained the provisional pole sitter, holding a comfortable margin at the top of the timing screens. The Campos Racing driver had delivered a strong early lap which continued to stand as the benchmark while many of his rivals struggled to improve.
However, as Gabriele Mini’s car stopped on the track and triggered the second red flag, the session was once again halted. The Italian driver, who had been fastest in practice and had already secured pole position at Albert Park last season, had his time deleted and will start both races from 19th position.
With just two minutes remaining in this Formula 2 Qualifying session, the drivers had a last opportunity to beat Tsolov’s benchmark.
Last-minute pole position battle
With no time remaining on the clock, it is Dino Beganovic who took pole position with a flawless lap, followed by Stenshorne and Alex Dunne. Despite holding provisional pole for much of the session, Nikola Tsolov was eventually pushed down the order in the closing moments of the Qualifying session
Despite holding provisional pole for much of the session, Nikola Tsolov was eventually pushed down the order in the final moments as multiple drivers improved their times, dropping the Bulgarian to sixth place on the grid.
Beganovic will therefore start from pole position in Sunday’s Feature Race. With the reverse-grid format applied for the Sprint Race, the DAMS Lucas Oil driver will line up tenth for the opening race of the weekend.
