Leon pips Dunne to first F2 pole after bold strategy call in Austria

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Campos Racing’s Noel Leon claimed his maiden Formula 2 pole position at the Red Bull Ring, pipping Alex Dunne to top spot after a bold strategic call from his team.

Taking advantage of an empty track, the Mexican capitalised and found time where others couldn’t, clearing Dunne by over a tenth of a second.

Leon started the session on the front foot, leading his teammate Nikola Tsolov in a Campos one-two early on. Leon’s time of a 1m16.283s enough to keep the Bulgarian at bay, a margin of just 0.015s separating the duo.

Leon quickly improved to extend his gap to 0.179s over his teammate before he was demoted by Invicta Racing’s Rafael Camara, a 1m16.062s now the time to beat.

The majority of the drivers returned to the pits after their first laps but Leon stayed on track. He found time and improved on his previous best, recapturing first place with a 1m15.544s, 0.508s clear of his Brazilian rival.

Having set his personal best early on, Leon was forced to watch from the pitlane as the 21 remaining cars took to the track once more.

Dunne moved his Rodin entry into second early on with a 1m15.673s, 0.129s behind Leon.

Tsolov secured the final top-three spot early on with a 1m15.730s, while championship leader Gabriele Mini demoted Camara further as the Italian moved 0.015s clear.

Leon though remained untouchable, replicating a similar strategy seen in FIA Formula 3 qualifying on his way to his maiden F2 pole.

Further back down the order, Sebastian Montoya bought joy to a struggling Prema team as the Colombian claimed reversed-grid pole for Saturday’s sprint race.

Trident’s John Bennett claimed ninth meaning he will line up alongside Montoya with Van Amersfoort’s Rafael Villagomez claiming third on the reversed grid with his eighth place finish.

Tasanaol Inthraphuvasak and Oliver Goethe filled the remaining top 10 positions, securing sixth and seventh respectively.

Qualifying results