Formula 2 News: American Jak Crawford on pole in Baku

American Jak Crawford secured the Aramco Pole Position Award in Baku for DAMS Lucas Oil, clocking a 1m54.791s to claim his first pole since Jeddah. Championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli of Invicta Racing was a mere 0.019s behind in second, with PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì taking third.

The session began with Roman Stanek setting the pace for Invicta Racing at 1m55.985. Alexander Dunne then edged ahead with a 1m55.843s, only for teammate Amaury Cordeel to trigger a red flag after hitting the barriers at Turn 13, ending his session.

With 22 minutes remaining, qualifying resumed, and Dunne improved to a 1m55.569, matched precisely by Luke Browning for second. Fornaroli then surged to the top with a 1m55.191, but Crawford eclipsed him by 0.399s to take provisional pole. Minì slotted into second, just 0.001s ahead of Fornaroli.

Dunne, showing promise with a purple sector one, made contact with the wall, forcing him to abort his lap and pit. Most drivers returned to the pits, but Fornaroli stayed out, improving to second, just 0.019s shy of Crawford.

With fresh Supersoft Pirelli tires, drivers hit the track again with under 10 minutes left. Dunne rejoined late after repairs to his Rodin Motorsport car’s front-right suspension. The next set of laps was cut short when ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins crashed at Turn 3, prompting another red flag with just over four minutes remaining.

After barrier repairs, the session resumed with a final push for pole. Dunne posted the fastest first sector, but a crash involving Stanek and John Bennett at Turn 1 brought out the red flags again, sealing the order. Crawford held pole, followed by Fornaroli and Minì. Martins took fourth, Dunne fifth, Browning sixth, with Josep María Martí, debutant Martinius Stenshorne, Stanek, and Sebastián Montoya rounding out the top 10.

The Formula 2 Sprint Race in Baku is scheduled for Saturday at 14:15 local time.

2025 Baku Qualifying Results