Formula 2 rarely forgives mistakes — and in Monaco, that margin is even narrower. The layout of the Principality, with its relentless walls and winding corners, turns qualifying into a spectacle of its own. Unlike other circuits, the qualifying format is split into two groups, adding an extra layer of strategy.
It was in this context that one of the tightest battles of the season so far unfolded. The pole position was decided by just three thousandths of a second.
“It was tough,” admitted Alex Dunne, who took pole for the round. “To be completely honest, after the lap before my last attempt, I thought it was going to be really hard to beat what Victor did.”
The driver, who earned his first pole in the category, acknowledged that the scenario seemed more favorable to his French rival. “He was six tenths ahead of the second-placed driver in FP1,” he recalled. Still, with precision and a bit of daring to nail all three sectors. “It wasn’t the cleanest lap, I made a few small mistakes… but I guess that’s Monaco. Putting in a perfect lap here is always very difficult. Behind the wheel, my time felt four thousandths slower than his, so I asked over the radio. But the live timing was a bit more generous with me,” he said, laughing. Enough to secure pole — by a razor-thin margin, as expected at one of motorsport’s most iconic tracks.
On the other side of this tight fight, Victor Martins carried a mix of frustration and pragmatism as the leader of the slower qualifying group, but unable to hold the final position. “It was a bit of a messy session. I made a mistake on the second lap, which put me at a disadvantage for the last two. When you mess up early, you lose confidence.” Still, Martins recognized the value of the consistency he has been showing: “We’ve been in the top three since the start of the season, and that’s the most important thing.” When asked if the natural evolution of the track could have favored the second group, he didn’t hesitate: “Historically, the second group tends to be faster. We knew we’d be a bit at risk.”
But the Frenchman remains optimistic. For him, the moment is to turn speed into solid results. “Tomorrow we have the Sprint Race. It’s important to be consistent, finish the race, give good data to the team, and prepare for Sunday.” Speaking about the future, he is straightforward: “I’m already thinking about it, of course, but first, a good start tomorrow. Then, prepare the strategy in the best possible way. Here, that can make a huge difference.”
In third place was rookie Leonardo Fornaroli, who is comforted by another top-five finish — but makes clear that dissatisfaction with his own performance still weighs on him. “Of course it’s good to finish in a good position, but I’m not happy with how my session ended. I had a flat spot on the third lap, and everything started vibrating too much on the last attempt.” With the instability, the driver chose not to push too hard at the big braking points — a choice that, although cautious, cost precious time. “It was a decent lap until the final sector, but I made mistakes. I’m not happy with myself.”
Still, Leo recognizes the progress: “We took a good step compared to yesterday, and we’re strong. Even with everything, we finished with a good result, and I take that with me.” And regarding the chances of victory in Monaco? He is realistic. “It’s very hard to overtake here. I’ll try to make a good start, maybe gain some positions, and have a good strategy. But the most important thing is to secure good points.”
Behind these meticulously timed laps between the walls, there is also a background that helps explain this positive moment for the pole sitter: the environment off the cockpit. “Honestly, I don’t think much has changed compared to last year. I’ve always felt that this was the level at which I could compete,” he reflected. “I think in F3, some things didn’t fit, I didn’t feel 100% comfortable… But now, the Rodin environment is amazing. Everyone has a similar sense of humor, we’re always laughing together. And that helps.”
With the team’s support, he feels he can finally show his true potential. “I want to give my best for them, and they want to give me the best possible car. It’s a relationship of mutual trust. We’re in a good place.”
That the pole was decided by thousandths only reinforces that the championship is wide open and, in this scenario, anything can happen. The next Formula 2 on-track session at the Monaco circuit is the Sprint Race, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, at 11:30 AM local time.
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