F2 rookies were on the rise today as Dino Beganovic achieved his first Pole Position during Qualifying at the 2025 Imola GP. Sebastian Montoya will line up beside him in Sunday’s Feature Race, with Victor Martins in third.
Rise Of The Rookies
With Beganovic and Montoya finding themselves on the front row for Sunday’s Feature Race, it highlights another strong performance from this season’s rookie drivers.
“It’s a big confidence boost,” admitted Montoya, who has had a difficult start to the season after scoring points in just the opening race in Melbourne.
“To get the first one here in Europe is going in the right direction, I think it’s been coming. It is a track I know quite well so I don’t have to adapt to the circuit.”
“Qualifying is a big part of the weekend, and obviously you want to be on the right foot,” added Beganovic.
“Being in the top ten is key in F2 and being in the mix all the time is going to take you a long way in the Championship.”
From F3 To F2
This weekend, fellow rookie competitor Alex Dunne, who is currently fourth in the overall standings, claimed that the jump from Formula 3 to Formula 2 was not as difficult as he expected.
“There is a difference, but like Alex said, it is not as big as I expected. The main difference […] is the way of managing races, tyre management and strategy for pit stops,” agreed Beganovic.
“I had quite an easy time adjusting to F2 from F3. The step to F1 is bigger having driven that car as well, but I think F3 prepares you quite well for F2.”
“I think there are a lot of different things, like the two different [tyre] compounds, the pit stops, the race management is a lot different. In terms of driving, I think if you get on top of it, it is just adapting a few things and you’re on the pace,” agreed Montoya.
“F3 does a really good job to prepare you for F2…I think the field […] prepares you […] it pushes you quite a lot as a driver to do a good job.”
Consistency Is Key
Another impressive result for Martins sees him line-up in third position for Sunday’s Feature Race.
Consistency has been key for the French driver this season. He’s scored points across all three weekends so far.
“When I look with the people I am fighting with in the Championship, they are behind [so far this weekend]. So I take Imola, Monaco and Barcelona with good confidence,” reflected Martins.
“I aim for points. I know there will be times that I need to manage and score maybe a few points, and then there will be times where I need to really go big and […] maximise these situations.”
“Confident” that he is in “right spot”, which is currently sixth in the overall standings, Martins highlights that it is “important after the three races” that he is in “a good position in the Championship.”
Caught Short
After Kush Maini hit the wall at Tamburello, the red flag was raised.
With six minutes of the session remaining, it was decided that Qualifying would not be resumed. This turned out to be a controversial decision across the paddock.
“I was super angry about not starting again because my pace was great,” admitted Martins.
“I was on pole on run one by quite a margin, so I knew I had everything to deliver for run two and get that pole.”
Although luck was on Beganovic’s side, with the red flag helping him achieve his first pole position in the series, the Swedish driver does not believe he maximised his full potential.
“I didn’t feel like the job was done at all. I was ready to go for another run and another push. So, I am a bit surprised but like Victor said, there is probably a reason behind it.”
Montoya explained that “it is F2 and F3. It is really close and sometimes […] you are on the lucky side, other times you are on the unlucky side.”
Therefore, the series is about putting yourself in “the best position for every situation”, with drivers needing to adapt quickly to the challenges they may face.
The Future Of Imola
With lots of talk surrounding Imola’s place on the calendar this weekend, and seemingly no incentive to renew the track’s contract, this may be the last time we see the drivers race here for the foreseeable future.
“I love this circuit. From F4 I raced on the circuit, I raced Regional here, F3 and now F2 […],” Montoya reminisced.
“I think it’s one of the few circuits left on the calendar that are quite old school. It would be a shame if we get it off the calendar, but I would really love to come back next year.”
“You don’t get, that often, this feeling in these kinds of corners,” said Martins.
“When you are in F2 with the Super-Soft, it is quite quick. Then with the chicanes, I really like to take some curves like in go-karts. It’s reminding me of being in go-karts, so definitely I like these kinds of corners.”
“I love this track, great memories here,” agreed Beganovic.
“The history […] the technical part of the track […] I would love to come back here in the future.”
The Formula 2 Sprint Race at the 2025 Imola GP will take on Saturday at 14:15 local time, followed by Sunday’s Feature Race at 8:00 local time.
Featured Image Credit: Scuderia Ferrari
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