It takes more than speed to conquer Monte Carlo. F2 Qualifying is often the most revealing weekend session on a circuit that punishes hesitation and rewards commitment. And on Friday afternoon, Alexander Dunne offered a glimpse of something rare — a performance built on pace and precision under pressure.
His final flying lap in Group B was as close to the limit as possible without overstepping it. A 1:21.142 secured him pole by 0.003 seconds, denying Victor Martins what had looked like a certain P1. It wasn’t dominance. It was timing. Monaco-style.
⏱️ A Format That Demands Focus
F2 qualifying in Monaco is split into two groups to manage traffic on the narrow streets. It will be very interesting what F1 does in 2026 with the same number of cars on the grid.
Group A ran first, and Victor Martins looked in control. His 1:21.145 lap was intent—quick, clean, and seemingly untouchable.
Behind him, Richard Verschoor and Arvid Lindblad got close, but not close enough. Martins’ lap stood as the provisional pole — until Group B got going.
🟥 Red Flag, Reset, Redemption
Group B opened with drama as Rafael Villagómez found the wall following a clash with Dunne. The red flag paused the session before it had even started. When it resumed, Dunne went quickest immediately, but it wasn’t enough to unseat Martins.
In the final minutes, track evolution favoured the bold. Dunne delivered when it counted — purple in Sector 1, purple in Sector 2, and tidy through the final corners—his 1:21.142 undercut Martins by just three thousandths.
🔍 What the Timesheets Don’t Show
Leonardo Fornaroli continued his strong run for Invicta Racing — second in Group B and third overall, with a calm and composed lap.
Arvid Lindblad impressed again for Campos, ending third in Group A with another mature drive in his debut Monaco weekend. Richard Verschoor quietly held position in the top five, while Sebastián Montoya showed a strong pace but spun on his final lap.
Luke Browning, among others, lost out due to yellow flags in the final sector, a reminder that Monaco often chooses its narrative.
🧾 Under Investigation
The incident between Dunne and Villagómez remains under review. As it stands, Dunne takes pole — his first in Formula 2 — and becomes the third different polesitter of 2025.
📆 What Comes Next
The Sprint Race begins Saturday at 14:15 local time, with the top 10 from qualifying reversed. Dunne will have to fight from deeper in the pack, but the Feature Race grid is already set. In Monaco, that often makes all the difference.
📰 Full coverage: coffeecornermotorsport.com
