In a thrilling showdown during the Formula 2 qualifying session in Jeddah, Jak Crawford emerged victorious, clinching pole position with a remarkable lap time of 1:43.579. The competition was fierce, with Victor Martins and Leonardo Fornaroli trailing closely behind, finishing within a mere tenth of a second of Crawford’s time. Following the session, the three drivers engaged in a discussion with Feeder Series and other selected media, sharing insights about their experiences on the track.
For Crawford, securing pole position is a crucial boost for his season, which has faced several challenges. After finishing third in the previous race in Australia, his momentum was significantly hindered by a technical issue that forced him to retire during the sprint race. Additionally, a subpar pit stop during what he described as an ‘outlier’ event in Bahrain further derailed his chances of earning points. With the opportunity to start the upcoming feature race without incurring a grid penalty, the two points awarded for pole position will mark his first points of the season.
During the early stages of the qualifying session, Crawford found himself languishing in the middle of the pack. After the initial runs, where drivers improved their times on the same set of supersoft tires, Crawford was in 14th place. Rookie driver Arvid Lindblad took charge in the first half of the session, showcasing impressive speed but opted to abort his third push lap. Martins closely followed Lindblad, clocking in just 0.073 seconds behind, while Alex Dunne and Richard Verschoor rounded out the provisional front rows. Fornaroli also chose to skip a faster third lap, finishing the first segment in sixth place behind his Invicta teammate Roman Staněk.
As the session progressed into the second run, Gabriele Minì set the fastest lap early on, only to be quickly surpassed by Luke Browning, who recorded a time of 1:43.737—half a second faster than Lindblad’s best. Oliver Goethe and Dino Beganovic joined the mix, securing positions on the second row. However, just as the excitement peaked, John Bennett’s crash at Turn 17 led to a red flag, halting the session.
With just over five minutes remaining on the clock, the qualifying session resumed. Fornaroli wasted no time in making his mark, briefly taking the top spot with a time of 1:43.671, only to be overtaken by Martins, who surpassed him by a slim margin. The ultimate twist came when Crawford made a stunning leap from 18th to first place, solidifying his pole position. After that, no other drivers within the top ten were able to improve their times.
Crawford attributed his successful performance to strategic adjustments made by his team during the session and his ability to remain composed after the red flag incident. “We were dead last in the pit lane, so when everyone got going again, it was a massive queue,” Crawford reflected. “I reassured my engineer that being last was fine. We had to take a risk to ensure I had a good setup for the lap, and that’s precisely what I got. I found plenty of clean space, which was exactly what I needed.”
Martins, who has consistently qualified second in all three races this season, also made adjustments during the session. Despite his strong performance, he expressed that the car wasn’t optimized to his liking. “Today we needed Jak not to be there,” he shared with Feeder Series. “One less driver would have helped us secure pole.”
Nevertheless, Martins is optimistic about his chances of achieving his first pole position of 2025 soon. “It’s just a matter of time. Sometimes we have to accept that not everything falls into place,” he stated. “I don’t need to change my approach drastically, but there’s always room for improvement. I know that ART is there to push me and help me grow.”
Martins has encountered challenges with race starts this season, losing positions in each of the three races thus far. He aims to convert his qualifying success into strong results in the upcoming feature race. “There are definitely areas to improve for the weekend, especially for tomorrow’s race. But we’ve learned a lot. We now understand the sweet spot of the car,” he explained. “We’ve maintained excellent consistency in our qualifying performance, and I believe we should leverage that as an advantage and a confidence booster moving forward.”
As the drivers gear up for the feature race, all eyes will be on Crawford, Martins, and Fornaroli, each vying for a strong finish. The competitive landscape of Formula 2 continues to evolve, with each session presenting new challenges and opportunities for these talented drivers. The upcoming race in Jeddah promises to be an exciting event, filled with high-speed action and strategic maneuvering, as the drivers aim to capitalize on their qualifying performances and secure vital points in the championship standings.
With the season still in its early stages, the battle for supremacy in Formula 2 is far from over. Each qualifying session serves as a critical indicator of the drivers’ performance and potential, and the pressure to perform only intensifies as the races unfold. As Crawford, Martins, and Fornaroli prepare for the challenges ahead, their focus will be on harnessing their skills and strategies to navigate the complexities of the Jeddah circuit and emerge victorious.
The combination of skill, teamwork, and the ever-evolving dynamics of racing will undoubtedly shape the narrative of this Formula 2 season, making it an exhilarating watch for fans and enthusiasts alike. As the drivers hit the track, their dedication and determination to succeed will be on full display, setting the stage for thrilling racing action in the days to come.
