Laurens Van Hoepen Takes F2 Pole in Montreal for 2026 Canadian GP Sprint

Laurens Van Hoepen delivered a late lap to claim pole position for the Formula 2 sprint race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, setting a 1:21.422 to edge Invicta Racing's Rafael Camara by 0.267 seconds. The Trident driver's performance highlights strong form for the team, with teammate John Bennett also taking seventh.

Why it matters:

F2 qualifying in Montreal sets the grid for Saturday's sprint race, where championship dynamics are tight. Van Hoepen's pole puts him in prime position to challenge for victory, while title leader Nikola Tsolov (Campos Racing) starts fourth after being outpaced by Rodin Motorsport's Alex Dunne, who took third.

The details:

• Top three: Van Hoepen (Trident), Camara (Invicta), Dunne (Rodin) – all within 0.287 seconds.
• Championship picture: Tsolov fourth, still leading the standings but facing pressure from the improving field.
• Trident's strength: Bennett's seventh-place run backs up Van Hoepen's pole, giving the team two cars in the top ten.
• Struggles for Herta: Colton Herta, making his F2 transition from IndyCar, could only manage 21st fastest, 1.435 seconds off the pace.
• Full results: The session was tightly packed, with the top 10 split by just 0.549 seconds.

What's next:

The F2 sprint race takes place later this weekend, offering Van Hoepen a chance to convert pole into a win. With Tsolov starting fourth and Dunne on the front row, expect a fierce battle for points in Montreal.