In a closely contested Formula 2 qualifying session at the Baku City Circuit, Richard Verschoor of Trident took a surprise pole position. Verschoor secured his second Formula 2 pole of the season, narrowly beating PREMA’s Kimi Antonelli by just 0.017 seconds, while ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins completed the top three.
The session kicked off with thirty minutes on the clock, and the 22 drivers, including three Formula 3 graduates making their debut, wasted no time attacking the challenging Baku street circuit. Championship leader Isack Hadjar was the first to set a benchmark with a lap time of 1:57.423. However, his time quickly became irrelevant as he tumbled down the order, with Verschoor snatching provisional pole after his first flying lap.
Hadjar’s second attempt was only good enough for fourth, and once again, drivers behind him improved. Verschoor, however, went even faster, lowering the benchmark to 1:55.655, while Martins and Antonelli followed in second and third, respectively.
By the midpoint of the session, there was a brief lull as drivers returned to the pits, preparing for their final runs. With nine minutes left, the grid reshuffled as everyone hit the track again. But just as the action was heating up, a red flag halted proceedings. Campos teammates Isack Hadjar and Pepe Martí locked up simultaneously into Turn 1, ending their session in the barriers, parked side by side.
After a lengthy delay to repair the barriers, the session resumed with only four minutes remaining, leaving the drivers just enough time for a single flying lap. The final minutes were electric, as Paul Aron was the first to improve, jumping up to third place. Moments later, Kush Maini briefly claimed provisional pole, only for Zane Maloney to snatch it away.
Antonelli then made his move, going to the top of the timing sheets, but in the final moments, Verschoor reclaimed the lead with a blistering 1:54.857 lap, securing pole by a razor-thin margin of 0.017 seconds.
Behind Verschoor, Antonelli claimed second, while Victor Martins secured third place. Maloney and Maini rounded out the top five, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto and Joshua Durksen. PREMA’s debutant Gabriele Mini impressed in his first Formula 2 outing, finishing eighth, with Jak Crawford and Christian Mansell completing the top ten. Mansell, on debut, will start from pole for the reverse grid Sprint Race.
