The Formula 2 drivers took to the track in Qatar for the first time, with Paul Aron setting the tone with a dominant practice session. The Estonian driver led the way, leaving his rivals in his wake as he fine-tuned his car for the upcoming races.
After a long hiatus, Formula 2 returned to the track, and the drivers were eager to get back into the swing of things. The title was up for grabs, and the next two weekends would decide the champion. As the drivers took to the track for the first time in Qatar, they were eager to get in some crucial practice time.
The grid welcomed a few new faces, including Dino Beganovic, Max Esterson, Cian Shields, and John Bennet. Richard Verschoor replaced Dennis Hauger at MP Motorsport.
The session got underway, and the drivers began with some exploratory laps, taking to the pitlane to switch between the Medium and Hard Pirelli tyres. The track would continue to improve with each lap, but Oliver Bearman suffered a wide moment at Turn 5.
The Virtual Safety Car was deployed, and Dino Beganovic’s session ended abruptly when he stopped on the track and was forced to retire from the DAMS Lucas Oil car. The green flag was waved once more, and the drivers resumed normal running.
Virtual Safety Car 🟡
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) November 29, 2024
That's not the start Dino Beganovic would have wanted to his first Formula 2 race weekend as he pulls off and jumps out of the car 😢#F2 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/i90Q3Ewzbu
The early laps saw the Hard tyres take centre stage, with ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins leading the way with a 1:40.841. However, title contenders Paul Aron and Gabriel Bortoleto soon eclipsed that time, with Bortoleto taking the top spot with a 1:40.366.
Aron responded with an impressive lap, shaving off 0.3 seconds to take the lead with a 1:39.236. He continued to push, setting a new benchmark with a 1:38.926, leaving Bortoleto and Martins in his wake.
As the session drew to a close, Aron continued to find more time, ultimately setting a 1:38.024 that left him 0.6 seconds clear of the competition. The red flag was waved as Luke Browning spun out on the exit from Turn 8 to Turn 9, getting stuck in the gravel. The challenging wind conditions had caught him off guard, removing enough downforce to cause the spin.
Red Flags 🚩
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) November 29, 2024
Luke Browning spins and finds himself beached in the gravel#F2 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/zFxC6ymMUB
The session resumed with nine minutes remaining, and the drivers had to be cautious, as the wind continued to play tricks on them. As the chequered flag was waved, Jak Crawford found himself in the gravel, mirroring Browning’s earlier incident.
Overall, it was Paul Aron who dominated the session, setting the pace with a 1:38.024. Championship leader Bortoleto finished second, 0.6 seconds behind, while Richard Verschoor took third for MP Motorsport. Isack Hadjar rounded out the top 11.
The drivers will look to build on this momentum as they head into the final two races of the season.
