After an intense Qualifying session and Sprint Race, the stage was set for the F2 Imola GP Feature Race. Qualifying saw a dramatic and tightly contested session, with Dino Beganovic securing his first pole position in Formula 2 and earning the Aramco Pole Position trophy.
Rodin rookie Alex Dunne, who had topped Free Practice, was unable to replicate that form and finished outside the top spots, while championship leader Richard Verschoor struggled throughout and ended a disappointing P19. Sebastián Montoya briefly held provisional pole with a rapid lap, ultimately securing P2, followed by Victor Martins in P3. A red flag caused by Kush Maini’s crash with just under six minutes to go brought the session to an early end.
As the formation lap began, the F2 Imola GP Feature Race quickly took a turn for Montoya, who was set to start in P2. The Columbian driver stalled and had to start from the pit lane.
Lights out for F2 Imola GP Feature Race
The lights went out, and it was a swift and clean start for pole-setter Dino Beganovic, quickly taking the lead after fending off Leo Fornaroli. Initially qualifying in P3, Victor Martins failed to get off the line after stalling, leaving room for Arvid Lindblad to take P3. Alex Dunne shoots to fourth, chasing Lindblad for third.
The middle of the pack did not have an easy launch due to Martins stalling. Oliver Goethe, who initially started in eighth, now sat in P12 by lap 2, sandwiched by Alpine Juniors, Gabriele Minì and Kush Maini. Fellow Red Bull junior Pepe Martí was able to push through to P8 and Roman Stanek rounded out the top 10.
Early pit stops
With some drivers opting to pit early to battle tyre degradation, Joshua Dürksen led the pack of drivers on the alternate strategy, having overtaken Ritomo Miyata on the run to Turn 2 for P7. All top four drivers pit, but Beganovic maintains the effective race lead. Dunne jumped Lindblad, who initially got ahead of Fornaroli. The top four pitted for Softs.
By lap 7, Jak Crawford and Luke Browning finally pitted, putting Dürksen in the lead. Browning gained a position after overcutting Crawford in the pits and in lap 8, was ahead of Beganovic. With fresh tyres, Browning went side-by-side into T7 with Dunne, but lost out.
LAP 8 / 35
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) May 18, 2025
Browning uses the overcut effectively and comes out just ahead of his team mate, Dino Beganovic#F2 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/CsLfq5wFVz
A swap for the lead
Now out in the front, Dürksen took the lead from Martí, but had to slow down because the yellow flags were out – Rafael Villagómez went off track at T4, bringing the safety car out. More drivers on the Supersofts were pitting earlier than expected in lap 16, using the safety car period.
LAP 15 / 35
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) May 18, 2025SAFETY CAR
Rafael Villagomez comes to a stop just after Tamburello with front left damage after contact with Sami Meguetounif #F2 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/xLRgSQiMOE
Dürksen and Martí were yet to pit and on lap 18, the safety car was back in.
A great restart for Alex Dunne
Alex Dunne launched during the restart and overtook Max Esterson, looking to put cars in between him and the rest of the pack. The Irishman also passed his Rodin teammate Amaury Cordeel, who was holding back Browning and Beganovic. Dunne was now chasing Miyata as Cordeel held off Browning.
Browning put up a fight and slipped past Cordeel around the outside of T2, but Dunne was already ahead of Miyata and sat in fourth. The McLaren junior was in the fight for the lead.
Lap 25 saw Dunne flying as he overtook Stanek for P3, putting two cars between him and Browning, as he chased Martí for P2 – taking the spot after making a move at Tosa.
Alex Dunne is the new race leader
Dunne was now in the lead, overtaking Dürksen and 3.4s ahead, while Beganovic finally got past Cordeel. Dürksen finally pitted, allowing Browning to make a move on Martí for P2, while Beganovic cleared Stanek.
The gap to the lead was now 5.3s, while Lindblad overtook Stanek. Stanek was not giving up, now 1.47s behind Beganovic.
Browning was losing time to Dunne, leaving room for Beganovic to chase him for P2, but it was Montoya who continued to impress as he sat in P8, after stalling during the formation lap. An impressive feat for the Prema driver.
Final lap of the F2 Imola GP Feature Race
After battling the grid to gain positions, Alex Dunne crosses the line to win the F2 Imola GP Feature Race! Luke Browning finished in second, followed by teammate Dino Beganovic, giving Hitech a double podium. Arvid Lindblad and Leo Fornaroli round up the top five.
It was a phenomenal drive for the young Irishman, taking his second win of the 2025 Formula 2 season. McLaren were sure to be impressed.
F2 Imola GP Feature Race results
- Dunne
- Browning
- Beganovic
- Lindblad
- Fornaroli
- Crawford
- Goethe
- Montoya
- Verschoor
- Meguetounif
- Shields
- Martins
- Dürksen
- Martí
- Cordeel
- Miyata
- Stanek
- Minì
- Esterson
- Bennet
- Maini
- Villagómez [DNF]
