Crawford secures pole position in Saudi Arabia.

Jak Crawford Claims Pole Position for Formula 2 in Jeddah

In a thrilling qualifying session for the third round of the Formula 2 Championship, Jak Crawford secured the pole position on Friday, March 18, at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. Driving for the DAMS team, Crawford clocked an impressive time of 1:43.579, achieved in the final moments of the session. This outstanding performance guarantees him the coveted first starting spot for the main race scheduled for Sunday.

Tight Competition in Qualifying

Crawford’s closest competitor, Victor Martins from ART Grand Prix, fell short by just 0.022 seconds, finishing the session in second place. The battle for the top spots was fierce, with Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 3 champion and current leader of the Formula 2 standings, securing a commendable third place in his Invicta car. Fornaroli will share the second row of the grid with Luke Browning, who qualified fourth driving for Hitech.

Completing the top five was Arvid Lindblad from Campos Racing, showcasing a strong performance that puts him in a prime position for the upcoming race. Alexander Dunne, who recently claimed victory in the main race at Bahrain, will start from sixth position in his Rodin car. He is followed by Josep María Martí in seventh place, also representing Campos Racing.

A Closer Look at the Grid

The eighth position on the grid will be occupied by Gabriele Mini from Prema, while Richard Verschoor from MP Motorsport qualified ninth. Rounding out the top ten is Roman Stanek from Invicta, who will start the Sprint race from a favorable position. The qualifying session experienced a red flag interruption due to John Bennett, a driver for Van Amersfoort, who spun out and hit the wall, halting the session temporarily. Once Bennett’s car was cleared from the track, the session resumed for an additional 5 minutes and 11 seconds, allowing drivers one last chance to improve their lap times.

Upcoming Races and Schedule

The first race of the Saudi Arabian round of Formula 2 is set to take place on Saturday, March 19, starting at 12:15 PM local time. Following this, the concluding race of the weekend will be held on Sunday, with the lights going out at 10:25 AM. Fans can look forward to an action-packed weekend as drivers compete for crucial points in the championship standings.

Final Qualifying Results

Here’s the final breakdown of the qualifying results for Formula 2 in Jeddah:

1. Jak Crawford (DAMS) – 1:43.579
2. Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix) – +0.022
3. Leonardo Fornaroli (Invicta) – +0.092
4. Luke Browning (Hitech) – +0.158
5. Arvid Lindblad (Campos Racing) – +0.164
6. Alexander Dunne (Rodin) – +0.222
7. Josep María Martí (Campos Racing) – +0.252
8. Gabriele Mini (Prema) – +0.263
9. Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) – +0.337

10. Roman Stanek (Invicta) – +0.400

11. Oliver Goethe (MP Motorsport) – +0.507
12. Kush Maini (DAMS) – +0.574
13. Dino Beganovic (Hitech) – +0.582
14. Amaury Cordeel (Rodin) – +0.615
15. Sami Meguetounif (Trident) – +0.686
16. Ritomo Miyata (ART Grand Prix) – +0.881
17. Sebastian Montoya (Prema) – +0.952
18. Joshua Durksen (AIX Racing) – +0.964
19. Max Esterson (Trident) – +1.327
20. Rafael Villagómez (Van Amersfoort) – +1.386
21. John Bennett (Van Amersfoort) – +1.573
22. Cian Shields (AIX Racing) – +2.104

Conclusion

This qualifying session not only set the stage for an exciting race weekend in Jeddah but also highlighted the intense competition within the Formula 2 Championship. With drivers like Crawford, Martins, and Fornaroli all vying for points, fans can anticipate thrilling battles on the track. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, known for its high-speed layout and stunning backdrop, promises to deliver an exhilarating racing experience for both drivers and spectators alike.

As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on the drivers as they look to capitalize on their qualifying positions and navigate the challenges of one of the most dynamic circuits in the Formula 2 calendar.