Aron sets pace as F2 returns to action in Qatar

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Hitech GP’s Paul Aron was quickest during a warm and blustery Formula 2 free practice at the Losail circuit.

The windy conditions made it difficult for drivers to acclimatise during the 45-minute session, catching several drivers out.

Debutant Dino Beganovic managed just three laps before his DAMS machine ground to a halt, resulting in an early virtual safety car period.

ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins initially set the pace with a 1m40.841s, but he was soon beaten by both Aron and Invicta Racing’s championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto, the latter going fastest with a 1m40.366s. Aron responded to reclaim top spot from his title rival by 0.3 seconds, and he then doubled that advantage by improving to a 1m38.024s.

The session was briefly halted when ART’s Luke Browning spun into the gravel at turn nine, and there were nine minutes left on the clock when the action resumed.

Aron and Bortoleto did not make any further improvements, but they remained in first and second when the session drew to a close. Richard Verschoor, who has switched teams from Trident to MP Motorsport, moved ahead of Martins into third late on, while Rodin Motorsport’s Zane Maloney also improved in the closing stages to claim sixth.

Hitech’s Amaury Cordeel was seventh ahead of AIX Racing’s Joshua Duerksen, while DAMS driver Jak Crawford was another to spin into the gravel but was ninth ahead of Rodin’s Ritomo Miyata. Campos Racing’s title contender Isack Hadjar was 1.6s off the pace in 11th, while Formula 1-bound Prema duo Ollie Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were 14th and 17th respectively.

Three other drivers are making their F2 debuts this weekend: Trident’s Max Esterson was 18th, two places ahead of Van Amersfoort Racing’s John Bennett who suffered a spin on his final lap, and AIX’s Cian Shields was 21st.

Free practice results