Alex Dunne claims F2 Baku pole in Qualifying 1

Alex Dunne secured pole position for the first F2 feature race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, topping Qualifying 1 at the Baku City Circuit. The Rodin Motorsport driver edged out teammate Martinius Stenshorne, while Noel Leon took third for Campos Racing.

Why it matters:

Baku's F2 weekend features a unique double-header format, with two qualifying sessions and two feature races. On a street circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult, grid position is everything. Dunne's pole gives him a golden chance to control the opening race and build momentum in the championship.

The details:

• Qualifying 1 set the grid for both the Sprint Race and Feature Race 1, with Kush Maini (ART Grand Prix) and Rafael Camara (Invicta Racing) completing the top five.
• The 20-minute session was run without refuelling between segments, meaning cars ran lighter and slower than in Qualifying 2, which is set to follow.
• Full results from the first session show Mari Boya sixth for Prema, ahead of Sebastian Montoya, Dino Beganovic, Laurens van Hoepen and Nikola Tsolov.
• Notable names further down the order include Colton Herta in 18th for Hitech and Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. in 19th for AIX Racing.

What's next:

Qualifying 2 is due to begin shortly, with the session determining the grid for the second feature race. With the championship battle still wide open, every position gained on Saturday could prove decisive by the time the lights go out on Sunday.