The rain that fell in the days leading up to the event — combined with the growing tension in the championship — created the perfect setting for an unpredictable and nuanced free practice session at the Austrian circuit. Known for being short, fast, and unforgiving, the track greeted drivers with a still “green” surface, the result of storms that had washed away much of the accumulated rubber. Even so, the 45-minute session was enough to reveal key trends and give a first glimpse at who is arriving strong for the weekend — and who is still looking for balance.
Alex Dunne showed exactly why he’s leading the championship. The Irish driver from Rodin Motorsport impressed once again by topping the timesheets, reinforcing his status as one of the season’s clear frontrunners. Dunne had already claimed victory at the Red Bull Ring in 2024, back in his Formula 3 days, and appears eager to repeat that feat behind the wheel of an F2 car. His performance remains consistent, even after a three-week break, and his familiarity with the circuit proved crucial in translating that into solid pace.
Meanwhile, other names also stood out — albeit with more ups and downs. Jak Crawford, for instance, set the fastest time during part of the session, showing competitiveness and strong pace. Luke Browning, driving for Hitech, delivered a solid performance and seems to have found a good balance in the car. On the other end of the spectrum, Sebastian Montoya and Pepe Martí faced difficulties — both went off-track and are under investigation for allegedly impeding other drivers during the session. Montoya, in particular, struggled with oversteer on multiple occasions, a result of cold track temperatures and car setups still not fully optimized.
The session was also marked by multiple lockups in key braking zones, especially at Turn 3, where several drivers lost control under heavy braking — including Amaury Cordeel, who ended up in the gravel but managed to rejoin without triggering a red flag. Victor Martins also tried to find rhythm amid the unsettled track conditions, while Mini — Montoya’s teammate — briefly climbed to the top of the leaderboard, hinting at the car’s potential.
Beyond the technical challenges, the session highlighted the Austrian circuit’s complexity, especially in terms of brake usage and drivers adapting to limited visibility in certain areas — most notably in the final corners, where even minor errors can cost an entire flying lap.
With Dunne riding high, expectations for qualifying are massive. If he maintains the pace shown in free practice, he could further consolidate his championship lead and set the tone for a dominant weekend in Austria. However, with contenders like Crawford, Browning, and even the more inconsistent names like Montoya and Martí still fighting for a place at the top, the battle promises to be fierce. Formula 2 continues to deliver drama, unpredictability, and raw talent — exactly as it should.
The Qualifying session will take place today at 3:55 p.m. local time. On Saturday, the Sprint Race will get underway at 2:15 p.m., featuring 28 intense laps. The weekend wraps up with the Feature Race on Sunday at 10:00 a.m., running over 40 laps.
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Image: Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty
