Jak Crawford took pole position with a 1:43.579 in the Saudi Arabian F2 qualifying session, leading Victor Martins and Leonardo Fornaroli.
Victor Martins went into the F2 qualifying session at the Saudi Arabian GP as the one to beat, setting the fastest time in practice earlier in the day.
However, like every race in Formula 2, nothing is guaranteed. 22 drivers lined up in the pits determined to find themselves at the front of the field come Sunday.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a notoriously difficult track for drivers, with close walls and tight, high speed corners. Mistakes are brutally punished and taking pole would require nothing short of perfection.
It would pose an extra challenge to the rookies on the grid who lacked the track time the veterans accrued in past years.
Straight on track
Drivers wasted no time on making their way onto the track, led by Sebastian Montoya. Montoya had a diffcult start to the weekend, with a disqualification in the practice session after lacking fuel in his PREMA car as the session ended.
PREMA went on push laps first, with Minì closely behind Montoya. Montoya crossed the line with a 1:44.982. The fastest time of the weekend so far.
Minì put in a 1:45.333 but quickly fell through the ranks as the rest of the grid made their way across the timing line with increasingly fast times.
Alex Dunne, the Irishman who managed to take a feature race win at Bahrain took the fastest lap from the PREMA by just a tenth with a 1:44.882. However, Dunne’s hope was shortlived with Victor Martins once again finding his way to the top of the times. 0.3 seconds ahead of Dunne.
John Bennett came onto his radio to complain about a cable in his way, likely a computer cable that was left in the car. The issue forced Bennett to pit to remove the cable or risk receiving a penalty.
Richard Verschoor took the fastest time with a 1:44.404. But the track progression around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was significant. Arvid Lindblad completed his push lap and took provisional pole with an impressive 1:44.250.
Lindblad to beat
Lindblad has struggled to get up to pace with those around him in the early stages of the season. Although, the 17-year-old went on another push lap and began taking time out of his own personal best. With a purple sector 2, Lindblad looked near unstoppable but before the final sector he dove into the pit lane, abandoning the lap.
The track progression was so high in Saudi Arabia that drivers had to plan carefully their running times and their fuel levels. Making sure that they’re on track at the end of the session. Putting themselves in prime position for pole.
The entire grid made their way into the pits, fitting on new tyres and preparing for the final runs and dash for pole position.
Luke Browning led the grid out for the final part of qualifying. With the chance of a red or yellow flag always looming over the Formula 2 sessions. The final ten minutes would be vital in their fight for pole.
Luke Browning’s push lap started well, going five tenths faster than Lindblad’s fastest time. Minì crossed the line with a 1:43.842. But it wasn’t fast enough for pole position as Luke Browning managed an impressive 1:43.737.
Late red flag
The session was red-flagged when John Bennett brushed the wall and spun in turn 17.
The timing of the red flag left Browning, Minì and Goethe as the only drivers who managed to get in a fast lap. However, there were still five minutes left in the session, which left drivers with just enough time for a final chance.
Richard Verschoor was left wanting more by the red flag. He missed out on crossing the line by mere seconds with a time that would’ve put him on provisional pole.
Green flag
The session was green-flagged with the clock counting down, the majority of the cars made their way onto the track. Not risking another red or yellow flag.
Trident held Meguetounif, desperately waiting for the vital gap needed to put in a competitive lap. However, as the clock hit the final three minutes, all drivers were darting around the weaving corners of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Minì once again led the pack, but with two yellow sectors, his hope for pole slipped away as he held P2. Arvid Lindblad moved himself into second. It was short-lived as Leo Fornaroli crossed the line to take provisional pole.
In the final seconds of the session, Victor Martins denied Fornaroli pole position with a 1:43.601. Similarly, as Jak Crawford ended his push lap, he slipped to the top of the times. An impressive 1:43.579 put him in pole position for the Feature Race.
Behind Jak Crawford, Victor Martins led Fornaroli. Finally, Roman Staněk took the vital tenth place, which puts him on pole for the sprint race.
