Leonardo Fornaroli reinforced his F2 championship credentials at the 2025 Qatar GP weekend after inheriting pole position for Sunday’s Feature Race. The Invicta Racing driver, who had shown competitive pace throughout Friday’s running, finished qualifying second on the timing screens before Oliver “Ollie” Goethe received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Martinius Stenshorne.
Fornaroli inherits Feature Race pole after Goethe penalty
While speaking to the media, including Pit Debrief, during the post-Qualifying press conference, Fornaroli reflected on his first day in Lusail, describing a positive start: “No, a very good day overall. First time here in Qatar. An amazing track, very fun. We’re strong since Lap 1 in Free Practice. Felt amazing today with the car.”
His strong form continued into Qualifying, where he led for much of the session before losing out on pole in the closing minutes. Despite missing the top spot on the timesheets, he noted the positives while acknowledging where the lap slipped away.
“Also, another super positive session in Qualifying. I struggled a bit more in sector two to put it all together. It’s a bit disappointing because we’re P1 basically all the session. But congratulations to Ollie. He did an amazing lap. Anyway, still an amazing day for me. And now we move on.”
Goethe’s penalty officially keeps him classified as the fastest driver but drops him to fourth on Sunday’s grid, handing Fornaroli pole position for a potentially decisive race in the title battle.
Invicta in contention in both championships
Invicta Racing enter the Lusail F2 Round fighting for both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships, and a strong Qualifying result from both cars strengthens their position. Teammate Roman Staněk secured fourth place on the timesheets, ensuring both Invicta drivers start near the front in the Feature Race. Staněk who will start Saturday’s Sprint Race from P6 under the reverse-grid conditions, has been promoted to a P3 starting position for the critical Feature Race.
Fornaroli highlighted the advantage of the team’s combined grid positions: “Me and Roman were starting in a very good position for both races. So we’ll do the best to score a lot of points.”
Attention briefly turned to the reliability of Fornaroli’s car after he stopped on track once the session ended, though he quickly downplayed the moment, explaining, “Just a little issue, no. No, not a big problem. Luckily, it was after the chequered flag.”
With both cars well-placed and mechanical concerns dismissed, Invicta enter the races with balanced optimism. However, Fornaroli is aware that a strong result is not guaranteed, especially with evolving track conditions and high tyre degradation expected across the 2025 F2 Qatar GP weekend.
Adapting to evolving track conditions with tyre management critical
As the paddock transitioned from the daytime heat of Free Practice to the cooler evening conditions of Qualifying, drivers faced a noticeable change in grip and balance. Fornaroli explained the adjustment required, noting the rapid shift between sessions.
“It’s always tricky when you have a big jump between a session and another one. But we’ve been doing this all year. Today, the jump was very quick. But after Lap 1, I managed to adapt myself quite quickly to the conditions. And I think also all the other drivers.”
The variations between daytime and nighttime running, and Qatar’s rapidly evolving track temperatures will play a major role in how the teams approach their strategies, especially with tyre wear expected to play a decisive factor across both races.
Lusail’s high-speed layout putting sustained load on the compounds. Last season saw notable tyre issues in the closing laps, and teams are preparing for similar challenges this weekend.
Fornaroli echoed concerns about managing degradation effectively: “Yeah, I think it will be very important. As Ollie said, this is a track that puts a lot of stress on the tyres. I’ve seen last year it was very important to manage well the tyres because some people were struggling a bit more at the end. So tomorrow I will try to do my best to manage it well.”
A measured approach in a critical title weekend
Despite inheriting pole and having the chance to secure the championship this weekend, Fornaroli emphasised that his outlook remains unchanged. Maintaining consistency — rather than adjusting his mindset due to the stakes — remains central to his approach.
“No, no. I will approach the races as I always approach to all the year. Even if I have an advantage now compared to my rivals, this means nothing.”
Consistency emphasised in title battle
With the championship fight narrowing and several contenders qualifying outside the top ten, consistency remains central to Fornaroli’s season-long approach. When asked what defines a Formula 2 champion by Pit Debrief, he emphasised the value of steady results over occasional standout performances.
“Yes, I think the consistency is key. I think it’s more important compared to try to win every race, to beat everyone every session and then do a mistake or lose position or something. And it’s what I’m trying to do this year and what I did last year as well. Always try to be in the point and without exaggerating. And I will continue like this.”
Consistency key as a defining weekend awaits
With Goethe’s penalty promoting him to pole for the Feature Race, Fornaroli enters the rest of the Qatar weekend with a clear strategic advantage. Strong qualifying results for Invicta Racing and mixed results for title rivals mean both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships could shift significantly over the next two days.
Fornaroli’s consistent approach and strong pace place him in a favourable position as F2 prepares for two decisive races under the Lusail lights at the 2025 Qatar GP.
