Formula 2 qualifying will be taking part in two split up sessions of Group A – even car numbers and Group B – odd car numbers. Whichever group grabs a faster provisional pole, will gain pole position and the inside of the track, the slower group starting from the outside of the track, with the position they finish their session in deciding which row of the grid they line up on.
As the green flag waves for Group A, O’Sullivan is the first out on track, closely followed by the rest of the group.
Verschoor is the driver to set the benchmark with a 1:37.820 as they get there tyres into the right window, Hadjar putting in a 1:40.263 before Colapinto knocks him down with a 1:39.586.
Antonelli finishes his first flyer with a 1:40.616 before Miyata sticks it in 1st with a 1:36.971.
Bortoleto is the next driver to pull together a 1st place lap with a 1:33.582, Verschoor reclaiming top spot with a 1:31.058 not long after.
Verschoor soon replaced his lap with a 1:23.844 before O’Sullivan and Hadjar pull together respective 1:23.118 and 1:23.659 laps to go P1 and P2.
Correa jumps up to 3rd with his 1:23.747, a tenth faster than Verschoor. Antonelli only manages a 1:24.112 which puts him into 5th.
Fittipaldi sits in 7th with a 1:24.558, Cordeel sitting 6 tenths behind him in 8th.
The yellow flag wave due to Miyata finding himself coming to almost a complete stop in the tunnel due to car issues — Hadjar nearly clouted the back of him through the right kink, narrowly avoiding a nasty and massive accident. The Frenchman was given warnings about a car going slowly via a white flag and one on the light panel as well.
O’Sullivan finds himself on provisional pole with a 1:22.202, before having that position retaken by Verschoor.
An impeding incident between Correa and Antonelli has been noted, and will be investigated after the session.
Hadjar places his car in 2nd with a 1:21.440 and with just over a minute to go in the session, the top 4 are split by just over one second.
Verschoor finishes the session in provisional pole with a 1:21.283, just under two tenths ahead of Hadjar.
The ART Grand Prix car of Martins leads the second group out onto the track, with everyone following him out, with the championship leader Maloney, a bit later than the rest.
Martins sets the benchmark with a 1:39.130 as the tyre preparation began, before Maini puts in a 1:38.071. Maloney finds the pace as he sets a 1:31.871, Martins now 2 seconds behind with a 1:33.801.
A red flag is out after Villagomez hits the barrier in turn one after having a snap, just as everyone begins to put in faster laps now that their tyres have begun to gain temperature.
At the time of the red flag, Marti is sitting in 3rd with his 1:34.295, just 3 tenths ahead of Stanek in 4th, Barnard 2 tenths behind in 5th and Aron a hundredth behind in 6th.
Maini, Hauger, Villagomez, Crawford and Bearman have yet to set a lap out of the 1:35s and make up the lower half of the 11 drivers on track.
Martins goes purple in sector 3, putting in a 1:22.690. sitting on provisional pole, Stanek putting in a 1:22.951 just behind him.
Bearman’s first proper flyer ends with a 1:22.988 putting him in 3rd. Crawford jumps up into 3rd with a 1:22.862, before Maini pushes him into 4th with his 1:22.716.
Championship leader Maloney puts in a brilliant flyer to jump back into provisional pole with a 1:21.941, before Martin overtakes him with a 1:21.744.
Stanek puts together a 1:21.466, taking back provisional pole. Bearman also managed to pull together a 1:21.919, landing himself in 3rd.
Crawford and Maini are noted for failing to slow under yellow flags earlier in the session and will be investigated after the session.
Hauger strings a lap together on a 1:21.659, slotting into 2nd, 2 tenths behind Stanek still. Aron sits in 7th with a 1:22.014
With two minutes remaining in the session, one second is all that separates the top 3.
Aron throws together a 1:21.905, good enough for only 5th. Yellow flags wave in sectors 2 and 3 as Stanek hit the wall at Tabac.
Martin improves in the last seconds and puts his ART to go P1 in group B, with Paul Aron pulling together a 1:21.347 just behind him in 2nd.
Verschoor will be starting Sunday’s feature race on pole position, less than half a tenth faster than Martins, concluding a wild and close qualifying session.
