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The streets of Monte Carlo once again reminded the Formula 2 and Formula 3 paddocks that precision, patience, and preparation rule the day. Today’s F2 and F3 Monaco practice sessions saw Victor Martins and Nikola Tsolov stand tall in a day defined by traffic, interventions, and thin margins.
F2: Martins Finds His Groove
Victor Martins delivered a dominant lap in Monte Carlo, clocking a 1:21.715 in a busy session. The ART Grand Prix driver looked composed and sharp, leading Hitech TGR’s Luke Browning by over six tenths of a second. Fornaroli (Invicta), Mini (PREMA), and Beganovic (Hitech) rounded out the top five.
F2’s FP1 top ten were as follows:
| 1. V. Martins |
| 2. L. Browning |
| 3. L. Fornaroli |
| 4. G. Mini |
| 5. D. Beganovic |
| 6. R. Verschoor |
| 7. A. Linblad |
| 8. A. Dunne |
| 9. R. Stanek |
| 10. J. Crawford |
The Monaco GP’s narrow and iconic layout struck again. The session’s only red flag came from Amaury Cordeel’s Turn 1 meeting with the barrier. It should be noted that Mini was meters from finishing an improved flyer when the red flag was thrown. Martins then decided to lock in his fastest lap and claim P1 as the session ended.
Friday’s split qualifying means traffic management and release timing are crucial. Overtaking at the Monaco GP is rare, and track position is king. Can Martins continue his performance into Qualifying and both races? Let’s not forget championship leader, Alexander Dunne, who will be itching to maintain his lead.
F3: Tsolov Gets it Right
In Formula 3, Nikola Tsolov led the way for Campos Racing with a 1:24.350. He secured P1 in a session shortened by a single red flag. That stoppage came when Noah Stromsted went off with around 10 minutes left. Tsolov capitalized on the timing of traffic to take the top spot as the checkered flag flew. Traffic hampered many other drivers’ fast lap attempts, as La Rascasse became a parking lot once again.
F3’s FP1 top 10 were as follows:
| 1. N.Tsolov |
| 2. T. Tramnitz |
| 3. C. Wurz |
| 4. R. Camara |
| 5. C. Voisin |
| 6. N. Leon |
| 7. M. Stenshorne |
| 8. M. Boya |
| 9. L. Van Hoepen |
| 10. T. Nael |
Up Next: Qualifying, Sprints, and Features
With the F2 and F3 Monaco practice sessions complete, qualifying looms large for these young drivers. After a single practice session, they must now execute under pressure. Both series use a split-group format, adding additional strategy and competitive problems. Not to mention the reverse-grid utilized in the Sprint Races. Are these practice sessions representative of the weekend? Will the championship leaders fight back in the coming sessions? Tune in to find out!
F3 returns to the track for qualifying tomorrow at 11:05 a.m. and 11:29 a.m. local time. F2 will begin their qualifying at 3:10 p.m. and 3:34 p.m. local time.
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Feature Image Credit: Williams Racing Media
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