25-07-2025
Alex Dunne dominates F2 qualifying to seize Spa pole for Belgian Grand Prix
Alex Dunne dominated FIA Formua 2 qualifying at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit to seize pole position for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix by a significant margin.
The Offaly native, who moved back up to third in the F2 drivers' championships standings after a second-place finish at a rain-sodden British Grand Prix feature race earlier this month, was in blistering form throughout the practice and qualifying sessions in Belgium on Friday.
The Rodin driver and McLaren junior set a time of 1:57.151, more than four-tenths of a second clear of Japanese driver Ritomo Miyata.
Championship leader Richard Verschoor missed out on the top ten, qualifying 11th, almost a full second (0.845) down on Dunne's time.
DUNNE GOES EVEN QUICKER!? 😱
The Irishman is in a class of his own today... 🥵 #F2 #BelgianGP
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) July 25, 2025
American Jak Crawford, who pipped Dunne to victory at Silverstone three weeks ago, was only able to qualify 14th.
Dutchman Verschoor and Crawford are 12 and six points ahead of Dunne in the drivers' standings, with points at play in Saturday's Belgian sprint race and Sunday's feature race, the latter of which the Irishman will start on pole for, with a huge opportunity to propel his title hopes at his nearest rivals' expense.
Dunne has won two feature races this year in Bahrain and at Imola, and recently became the first Irish driver to feature in a Formula One grand prix session for 22 years when he took part in Friday first practice ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, the F1 championship is also resuming this weekend after a three-week break, with sprint qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix later on Friday afternoon, with qualifying for the grand prix on Saturday and the race itself on Sunday.
