Maksimilian Popov claimed the first pole position of his single-seater career in Qualifying 2 at Spa-Francorchamps, as the Trident Motorsport driver topped the overall timesheets in a tightly contested 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) session.
The Trident driver set a 2:13.202 in Group B, which proved enough to beat Rashid Al Dhaheri’s Group A benchmark by just 0.046s. As a result, Popov became the fourth different pole-sitter of the 2026 FREC season.
The result also gave Popov an immediate response after a frustrating Race 1, where he lost the point for 10th place following a five-second penalty. Meanwhile, Al Dhaheri secured a front-row start and kept himself firmly in the fight for Race 3.
Popov praises Trident after difficult run
Popov delivered his best qualifying result in single-seater racing after a demanding session on a drying Spa circuit. Although sunshine had returned, overnight rain and earlier wet running left parts of the track damp, which forced drivers to judge grip levels carefully across the long lap.
The Trident driver found confidence quickly and produced two strong laps in the same window. Therefore, he left the session encouraged not only by the pole position, but also by the consistency and balance of the car.
“I’m very happy with the car today. The track was still a bit damp after the overnight rain, with a few puddles remaining in some areas, so it was important to find the right lines and know where you could really push. I managed to put together two very consistent laps that were extremely close in terms of lap time, and the car felt fantastic throughout the session. I’m really grateful to the team because they did an amazing job. The last month has been quite difficult for us and we struggled a bit with our pace, but now we’re finally back at the front. It feels great to secure my first overall pole position in FIA FREC, and I’m delighted with the result.”
His comments underlined the importance of the result for Trident. After a challenging spell, Popov’s pole returned the team to the front and gave him the best possible starting point for Race 3.
Group B sets the decisive benchmark
Group B headed out first in mixed conditions, with parts of the circuit still carrying moisture from the earlier rain. Alexander Abkhazava initially set the pace for MP Motorsport before Popov moved ahead with his 2:13.202.
Alexandre Munoz, fresh from victory in Race 1, came closest in the group and finished just 0.052s behind Popov. Abkhazava followed in third, while Alex Ninovic and Marcus Sæter completed a closely packed top five.
Indeed, only 0.185s covered the leading five drivers in Group B. That narrow margin highlighted how much drivers needed to balance aggression with precision, especially with damp patches still influencing the racing line.
Al Dhaheri adapts after wet Race 1
Al Dhaheri then led Group A with a 2:13.248, but he narrowly missed out on overall pole. Still, the R-ace GP driver secured second on the Race 3 grid and placed himself in a strong position for the run towards La Source and through the opening lap at Spa.
The Emirati driver explained that Qualifying 2 demanded a quick reset after the earlier wet race. Drivers had to return to a dry-weather approach while still managing an imperfect surface and the usual Spa challenge of track position and tow.
“The first Qualifying session was quite difficult because there were a lot of new factors to deal with, particularly in terms of track positioning and making sure you were in the right place to benefit from a tow. We didn’t really know what to expect. This time, we came into the session straight from a wet race, so as a driver you have to adapt very quickly to changing conditions and switch back to a dry-weather mindset, even though the track wasn’t completely ideal. There were a few things that weren’t perfect, both with the car and with our track positioning, but I think we managed to get the job done. “
In the end, securing a front-row start at Spa is a very good result. Sometimes starting from pole isn’t necessarily the biggest advantage here – I learned that last year. The most important thing is to be at the front, take any opportunities that come our way and maximise the result. I think the race is very open.”
His assessment reflected the unique nature of Spa. While pole gives Popov track position, the tow and long straights can bring the chasing pack into play very quickly.
Przyrowski and Munoz keep the pressure on
Behind Al Dhaheri, Jan Przyrowski produced one of the strongest laps of Group A. The RPM driver finished only 0.004s away from Al Dhaheri’s group-topping time, which secured fourth on the Race 3 grid.
Emanuele Olivieri and championship leader Sebastian Wheldon also stayed close, with only 0.003s separating them in third and fourth in Group A. Miguel Costa completed the top five for RPM, adding further depth to a competitive session.
Meanwhile, Munoz will start third overall after backing up his Race 1 win with another strong qualifying performance. Consequently, the second row features two drivers who have already shown strong pace across the Spa weekend.
Race 3 battle remains wide open
Popov will lead the field away from pole as he targets his first victory of the season. However, Al Dhaheri will start alongside him, while Munoz and Przyrowski will line up directly behind the front row.
With Spa’s long straights, heavy braking zones and slipstream effect, the race could develop quickly. Popov has the advantage after a breakthrough qualifying performance, but Al Dhaheri believes track position near the front matters more than pole alone.
As a result, Qualifying 2 set up a finely balanced Race 3 fight. Popov has momentum, Al Dhaheri has opportunity, and the chasing pack sits close enough to turn the opening laps into a decisive battle.
