Frederik Vesti will start on pole for Sunday’s Feature Race around the famous streets of Monaco ahead of Group A leader, Victor Martins.

A revised Qualifying session format saw 11 of the 22 driver compete in the first half. Drivers who compete under an even racing number filled Group A.

After the first runs,  Martins topped the timing screens with a 1:22.244, ahead of compatriot Isack Hadjar.

Home favourite, Arthur Leclerc went into this weekend’s round at Monaco with a positive attitude. Unfortunately for him, he crashed out of Qualifying following a mistake on the exit of La Rascasse.

As a result, the red flag was waved with just under six minutes to go. Richard Verschoor topped the group with a 1:21.639, just two-tenths ahead of Kush Maini.

Doohan was the first driver to set a time after the red flag, he briefly went purple until he was replaced by Martins at the top.

The session ended under red flag conditions with just 16 seconds to go. MP Motorsport’s Jehan Daruvala found the wall at the exit of Mirabeau.

Martins finished the session for Group A in P1 with a 1.21.231, two tenths ahead of Doohan.

For Group B, Dennis Hauger was the quickest driver of the first runs with a 1:22.979.

To earn themselves pole, the drivers need to beat Martins’ time. With only three minutes to go, Pourchaire was the closest driver to Martins with a 1:21.354 but many were setting personal bests.

Frederik Vesti was the first driver to beat the provisional pole time set by ART’s Martins as he set a 1:21.053, half a tenth faster than Pourchaire’s new quickest time.

Group B’s session was also cut slightly short by a red flag. This time Clément Novalak had crashed at Portier after experiencing a healthy amount of oversteer.

The rest of the weekend will run in its usual format. Saturday’s Sprint Race will see Isack Hadjar start on reverse grid pole. Group B leader, Vesti will start on pole for the ever important Feature Race around the streets of Monaco.

Image: Formula Motorsport Limited