Maksimilian Popov secured the first pole position of his single-seater career in Qualifying 2 at Spa-Francorchamps, becoming the fourth different pole-sitter in the 2026 Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) season.
The Trident driver produced the fastest time across the two qualifying groups, edging out Rashid Al Dhaheri by just 0.046s. Earlier in the day, Popov had lost the point awarded for 10th place in Race 1 after receiving a five-second penalty for forcing Reno Francot off the track.
Race 1 winner Alexandre Munoz will start from third on the grid, sharing the second row with one of the standout performers of qualifying, Jan Przyrowski.
2026 FREC: Spa-Francorchamps: Qualifying 2: Group B: Popov claims pole position
With sunny skies returning to Spa but parts of the circuit still damp from the earlier rain, Group B was the first to head out on track.
Alexander Abkhazava initially set the benchmark with a 2:13.771 for MP Motorsport before Popov went quicker with a 2:13.202, moving to the top by 0.052s over Munoz.
Abkhazava ultimately finished third in the group, while Alex Ninovic and Marcus Saeter rounded out the top five. Just 0.185s separated the leading five drivers in the group.
Group B Results: Top 10
- #33 Maksimilian Popov – Trident Motorsport – + 2:13.202
- #95 Alexandre Munoz – ART Grand Prix – + 0.052
- #15 Alexander Abkhazava – MP Motorsport – + 0.120
- #2 Alex Ninovic – Rodin Motorsport – + 0.172
- #67 Marcus Sæter – G4 Racing – + 0.185
- #51 Kean Nakamura-Berta – PREMA Racing – + 0.236
- #7 Andrea Dupé – Van Amersfoort Racing – + 0.416
- #27 Matteo Giaccardi – ART Grand Prix – + 0.468
- #3 Saqer Almaosherji – G4 Racing – + 0.513
- #78 Gabriel Gomez – Rodin Motorsport – + 0.549
2026 FREC: Spa-Francorchamps: Qualifying 2: Group A: Al Dhaheri goes fastest, does not beat Popov’s time
No driver in Group A was able to better Popov’s benchmark, although it proved incredibly close at the front.
As the chequered flag fell, Al Dhaheri topped the group with a 2:13.248, finishing just 0.004s ahead of Przyrowski. Emanuele Olivieri was third fastest, only 0.003s ahead of championship leader Sebastian Wheldon.
Miguel Costa completed the top five for RPM.
With pole position secured, Popov will lead the field away for Race 2 as he looks to convert his maiden pole into his first victory of the season, while Al Dhaheri, Munoz and Przyrowski will all start within striking distance on the front two rows.
Group A Results: Top 10
- #71 Rashid Al Dhaheri – R-ace GP – 2:13.248
- #8 Jan Przyrowski – RPM – +0.004
- #73 Emanuele Olivieri – R-ace GP – +0.129
- #98 Sebastian Wheldon – MP Motorsport – +0.132
- #5 Miguel Costa – RPM – +0.229
- #24 Jules Roussel – CL Motorsport – +0.255
- #4 Reza Seewooruthun – Rodin Motorsport – +0.388
- #28 Zhenrui Chi – MP Motorsport – +0.535
- #12 Yuki Sano – R-ace GP – +0.602
- #19 Kabir Anurag – ART Grand Prix – +0.629
