Paul Aron dominated 2024 Qatar GP F2 Qualifying session in the penultimate round of the season. He will start the Formula 2 Qatar Grand Prix, from pole position. The Estonian driver demonstrated his talent and dominance throughout the session which saw many improve.
A Rookie-Filled Qualifying Session
The 2024 Qatar GP qualifying session had a reshuffled driver lineup, with many changes to the Formula 2 grid. For example, we had;
- Max Esterson stepped into Trident, replacing Richard Verschoor, who moved to MP Motorsport.
- Dino Beganovic replaced Juan Manuel Correa.
- John Bennett filled in for Enzo Fittipaldi.
- Cian Shields stepping in for Niels Koolen
Debuting at a track which is new to Formula 2 and every driver is on an even playing field with experience will made this qualifying session interesting. Outliers found themselves in classifications where many may have not expected them to be.
Bortoleto vs Hadjar: Championship heats up
Gabriel Bortoleto, the latest rookie on the 2025 Formula 1 grid has told of how he’s focused on his championship battle. Not that of Isack Hadjar’s.
“I’m looking at my championship. Not focusing on copying something just because he’s [Hadjar’s] doing it.”
This approach is similar to that of his Formula 3 campaign, where he ultimately won the championship during the final round of the calendar.
Tricky conditions yet still fast laps
In terms of their qualifying sessions, Gabriel Bortoleto started strong in the F2 Quali session at the 2024 Qatar GP, setting a provisional fastest lap of 1:38.317 despit a snap of oversteer early in the session. However, Aron returned to his FP1 form, delivering a time of 1:36.614 during the initial runs. Bortoleto responded with a 1:35.586 on his second set of medium tires, briefly retaking the top spot. A top spot which belonged to the man of the weekend, Paul Aron, reclaiming his place with a 1:36:614.
However, not everyone was setting fastest laps of the session, with Championship rival Isack Hadjar struggling, sitting P10 after the first runs and eventually finishing P9, over a second off Aron’s pace. His late-session improvements weren’t enough to challenge his competitors.
Hadjar will have to drive a dominant race to challenge his rival from P9 during Sunday’s feature race. However, he has a good opportuniity to score points tomorrow where he will start P2 due to the reverse-grid system for the top ten.
Late-Session Drama and Evolving Track Conditions
As the session progressed, the track evolution became a key factor. Aron capitalised on this, clocking an unbeatable 1:35.427 with just minutes remaining. Bortoleto and Victor Martins rounded out the top three, but neither could match Aron’s consistency in the final sector. A sector which saw him three tenths quicker than any time he had done before.
The session ended under yellow flags when Luke Browning went off into the gravel, halting some drivers’ final flying laps. This will play a major factor during the remainder of this weekend’s Grand Prix, as many drivers were fighting to stay on track and not find themselves beached in the gravel. With a lot at stake for many, they would love to have a clean weekend and walk away with good points.
Final Quali Top 3 at the F2 Qatar GP
- Paul Aron – 1:35.427
- Gabriel Bortoleto – +0.335
- Victor Martins – +0.591
Dino Beganovic deserves a massive applause for finishing 4th on his first ever qualifying session in Formula 2.
F2 will be back racing for the Sprint race tomorrow.
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Featured Image photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd