F2: First qualifier of the season won by Theo Purscher

There are eight rookies in Formula 2 this year and the results from the first qualifying of the season in Bahrain should have shown what they look like against the background of more experienced youth drivers.

The first more or less representative result was shown by one of the most experienced drivers – Ralf Boschung, because the Swiss is already waiting for the 96th start in F2 this weekend, and he completed his lap for 1’42.010, but soon this was time blocked by Theo Purscher, who can be considered the favorite of the season.

Last year’s F2 vice-champion managed to improve Boschung’s result by more than four-tenths. Dennis Hauger briefly stayed third in the first half of the session, but Arthur Leclerc, the Ferrari driver’s younger brother, overtook him.

However, he didn’t stay in the top three either, as he was squeezed out by last year’s Formula 3 champion Vitor Marten.

After completing five or six laps, the drivers returned to the pit lane for fresh tires before launching a decisive attack for pole. It was somewhat surprising that Jack Duane, another contender for the win, remained in the shadows for the time being – the Australian failed to move above the seventh stripe and was almost eight-tenths behind Purscher so far.

After getting a new set of soft tyres, Jack took to the track first and made an effort to improve the result. He succeeded only partially – he climbed to the fourth line of the protocol.

There were seven minutes left until the end of qualifying, but the top three remained the same: Purcher – Boschung – Martin. But closer to the end of the session, the picture began to change. The already quite experienced Richard Vershore made his way to third and Marten moved up to second. Purscher remained in first place – with the difference that his lead over his closest rival has now grown to almost eight tenths.

It is therefore not surprising that his result – 1’40.903 – remained the best: no one came close to Alfa Romeo’s reserve driver. His compatriot and ART teammate Viktor Marten will also start Sunday’s race from the front row. The third result remained for Richard Fershor, the fourth – for Dennis Hauger.

And in Saturday’s sprint, Boschung will start from pole position and show the tenth result today. For some reason, Jack Doohan failed to excel in the first qualifying of the season – he is only 17th, although a lot was expected from an Alpine Academy student. He should take an example from another participant in this youth program, from Victor Martin – incidentally, a newcomer to Formula 2.

Formula 2: Qualifying in Bahrain won by Theo Purscher

There are eight rookies in Formula 2 this year and the results from the first qualifying of the season in Bahrain should have shown what they look like against the background of more experienced youth drivers.

The first more or less representative result was shown by one of the most experienced drivers – Ralf Boschung, because the Swiss is already waiting for the 96th start in F2 this weekend, and he completed his lap for 1’42.010, but soon this was time blocked by Theo Purscher, who can be considered the favorite of the season.

Last year’s F2 vice-champion managed to improve Boschung’s result by more than four-tenths. Dennis Hauger briefly stayed third in the first half of the session, but Arthur Leclerc, the Ferrari driver’s younger brother, overtook him.

However, he didn’t stay in the top three either, as he was squeezed out by last year’s Formula 3 champion Vitor Marten.

After completing five or six laps, the drivers returned to the pit lane for fresh tires before launching a decisive attack for pole. It was somewhat surprising that Jack Duane, another contender for the win, remained in the shadows for the time being – the Australian failed to move above the seventh stripe and was almost eight-tenths behind Purscher so far.

After getting a new set of soft tyres, Jack took to the track first and made an effort to improve the result. He succeeded only partially – he climbed to the fourth line of the protocol.

There were seven minutes left until the end of qualifying, but the top three remained the same: Purcher – Boschung – Martin. But closer to the end of the session, the picture began to change. The already quite experienced Richard Vershore made his way to third and Marten moved up to second. Purscher remained in first place – with the difference that his lead over his closest rival has now grown to almost eight tenths.

It is therefore not surprising that his result – 1’40.903 – remained the best: no one came close to Alfa Romeo’s reserve driver. His compatriot and ART teammate Viktor Marten will also start Sunday’s race from the front row. The third result remained for Richard Fershor, the fourth – for Dennis Hauger.

And in Saturday’s sprint, Boschung will start from pole position and show the tenth result today. For some reason, Jack Doohan failed to excel in the first qualifying of the season – he is only 17th, although a lot was expected from an Alpine Academy student. He should take an example from another participant in this youth program, from Victor Martin – incidentally, a newcomer to Formula 2.