F2: Bearman bounces back to secure Jeddah pole position

It was a complete reversal in fortunes from last weekend as PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman took pole position in Jeddah for the Formula 2 Feature Race.

The Scuderia Ferrari Academy driver was locked in a finely poised battle with Invicta Racing and Alpine Academy talent Kush Maini for the top spot, the pair hardly separated throughout the session.

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After starting out qualifying on the front foot by going quickest of all on the initial runs, Bearman dropped to third as Dennis Hauger put MP Motorsport on top, before Paul Aron delivered a 1m 42.217s in the closing stages for Hitech Pulse-Eight.

Bearman then went quicker still, able to set a 1m 42.217s to secure what was provisional pole at that point. Maini quickly followed across the line but couldn’t better that, settling into P2 approaching the final five minutes.

Going into the final runs, Bearman held provisional pole by just 0.025s over the Indian driver as the last of the flying laps got underway with less than two minutes to go.

The PREMA driver dropped time in the first sector and eventual bailed on his lap while Maini continued on. He entered the final sector with the chance to deny the Briton pole, but a last-corner lock-up for the Invicta driver prevented any improvement, and Maini had to settle for P2 at the chequered flag.

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DAMS Lucas Oil and Aston Martin Development Driver Jak Crawford made a late improvement for the French outfit to put himself third on the Feature Race grid. The American left it until his final lap to move into the top three, ending the session 0.159s down on pole.

For an in-depth report of the qualifying session in Jeddah, visit the official F2 website.