Between luxury and dunes, we are getting closer to the coronation of this season's F2 champion. Two weekends left to find out the name. No certainties, 4.5 points divide the leader, Gabriel Bortoleto, from his main pursuer Hadjar, not far away also Maloney, who however, will not take part in the final weekend in Abu Dhabi. There are 8 drivers mathematically in the race, but only one can be champion.
74 points left up for grabs, 2 up for grabs in this qualifying session on the Losail circuit.
First impressions, Maloney unsure
From the morning of free practice, in which Paul Aron wins, the track has changed a lot, starting with the temperatures dropping by as much as 14° degrees. The track is not the only one to change, with four debutants on the grid: Bennett (VAR), Shields (AIX), Beganovich (DAMS) and Esterson who replaces Verschoor who returned to his origins with the MP team.
The session confirms the sensations of the morning, good ones for Aron, who obtains the first time in 1.36.614. 18, but the qualifications are still long, XNUMX minutes to the flag.
The training schedule here in Qatar seems to please everyone: out lap, push lap, cool down lap and down with the gas again for a push turn. While Bortoleto is 28 thousandths ahead of Paul Aron, Maloney opens up on the radio, for his last qualifying in F2: "I have to get into the pits, something broke”, but nothing worrying is detected in the pits and the driver returns to the track.
Tick tock, 13 minutes to go.
“Paul” position, Aron the fastest of all
Prints a 1.36.088 Paul Aron who seems to fly in this qualifying, while the others seem to drive on a different track. Many skid, especially between turns 5 and 6, among many, Oliver Bearman, who kisses the gravel.
Let's leave the pebbles now, because there are less than 3 minutes left, and soon the last attempt will begin for everyone, Aron and Bortoleto chase each other, until Gabriel returns to the pits and Paul prints a 1.35.115 on the flag which earns him the pole position, two steps forward in the standings, for him who is now 37.5 points behind Bortoleto.
The fourth fastest time by Beganovic, on his F2 debut, stands out and without having participated in the free practice due to a technical problem. The session ends with a yellow flag for Browning which, almost to emulate his morning, it stops in gravel.
17: 15, this is the time for tomorrow's sprint race, with Bearman in pole position and a championship to contend for, and it has to be done quickly.
Qualifications: Aron (+2 points), Bortoleto, Martins, Beganovic, Verschoor, Crawford, Maini, Goethe, Hadjar, Bearman, Antonelli, Marti, Esterson, Browning, Miyata, Durksen, Maloney, Cordeel, Bennet, Mansell, Villagomez, Shields.
