After this morning’s Free Practice session, the drivers now have 30 minutes to fight for pole position at Monza in the F2 Italian GP Qualifying. The key will be positioning on track, with most drivers aiming to slot themselves into the middle or back of the train to benefit from a slipstream down Monza’s iconic main straight.
But does pole really matter here? History suggests otherwise. Since Formula 2 began racing at Monza, only once has the pole-sitter converted it into a Feature Race win, which was Oscar Piastri back in 2021.
Hometown hero Leonardo Fornaroli will be eager to deliver in front of the passionate Italian fans, while fellow countryman Gabriele Minì will also be looking to impress on home soil. The pair have history at Monza, with Fornaroli dramatically clinching the F3 Championship here last year, snatching the crown from Minì on the very last corner of the final lap.
It’s green lights for Qualifying at Monza
The F2 Italian GP Qualifying session got off to a slow start, with most teams hesitant to be first on track. Only half the grid ventured out initially.
Miyata was the first to set a benchmark time of 1:48.055, but it quickly became clear it wouldn’t stand. Lap times steadily dropped into the 1:33s, with drivers pushing harder as the session progressed.
Alex Dunne put together a clean, traffic-free lap and crossed the line with a 1:33.554, setting an early marker. As the grip improved, subsequent drivers continued to chip away at the times, knocking each previous pole sitter down the order and intensifying the battle for top starting positions.
Maini continued his form from Practice into Qualifying, where he crossed the line with 1:32.735, taking provisional pole position.
Fornaroli set off on a flying lap, setting the fastest middle sector time, but he went wide at the final corner as was only able to manage P6.
RED FLAG
Disaster struck for Gabriele Minì at his home race, as he came to a halt at the exit of the second Lesmo corner, prompting a red flag to retrieve his car. Shortly after, Cian Shields also stopped on track at the pit entry, meaning both cars had to be recovered before the session could resume.
Green lights back on track
After the red flags, the drivers wasted no time and headed straight back out on track, picking up where the session had left off. Most remained on the same set of tyres they had used earlier.
With 15 minutes left of the F2 Italian GP Qualifying session, it appeared that Dunne’s earlier alternate strategy hadn’t paid off, with him down in P15 at the time. Lindblad returned to the pit lane, appearing to have an issue with his Campos Racing vehicle.
The track improved since the first time running before the red flag, with all times improving. Browning moved to provisional pole with 1:32.390.
Red Flags for Fornaroli at the final corner
Heartbreak for the Italian fans, as Fornaroli appeared to suffer a gearbox issue, bringing his car to a halt at the final corner. Browning currently led Verschoor, Maini, Stanek and Goethe.
Green flags with reduced session time
Prior to the red flag, 12 minutes remained in the session, but it was unexpectedly reduced to just 6 minutes once the lights went green. Bennett was noted for a second unsafe release in the pit lane. Verschoor, the first driver out on track, had been told he could attempt two flying laps, but he was hoping to find a tow—something that ultimately proved impossible.
Red Flag for Verschoor
There was a split in strategy, with some drivers pushing hard on their out-lap while others took a slower approach.
Verschoor, on a flying lap, spun at the exit of Lesmo 1 and ended up in the barrier. The session was not resumed, with Browning claiming his first-ever Formula 2 Aramco pole position. Verschoor currently sits in P2, but his lap may be deleted by the stewards due to the red flag incident.
Provisional classification for the F2 Italian GP Qualifying session
- L. Browning 1:32.390
- R. Verschoor
- K. Maini
- R. Stanek
- O. Goethe
- A. Dunne
- A. Lindblad
- J. Dürksen
- L. Fornaroli
- S. Meguetounif
- D. Beganovic
- J. Crawford
- V. Martins
- J. Martí
- G. Minì
- R. Villagómez
- R. Miyata
- C. Sheilds
- J. Bennett
- A. Cordeel
- M. Esterson
- S. Montoya
