What F2's championship contenders need to do in the Qatar Sprint Race

Written by Vyas Ponnuri

With just four races to go in Formula 2's 2025 season, five drivers still remain in with a shout of winning the title. However, a topsy turvy qualifying has dealt a heavy blow to two names on the grid this weekend. DIVEBOMB gives you the lowdown on what all the championship contenders have ahead of them in F2's Qatar Sprint.

Fornaroli inherits pole, but starts ninth on the grid for the sprint | Credit: Formula 2 via X

Ahead of the Qatar sprint, a total of 76 points still remain up for grabs, with 10 points each for the upcoming sprint races, and 25 points for victory in the feature races. A point each is available for the fastest lap across all four races, while pole at the next weekend in Abu Dhabi is worth two championship points.

In this close battle, every point is worth its weight in gold, and the quintet of contenders will be giving it their all until the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. However, qualifying on Friday has left championship contenders scattered across the grid, shaping up for an extremely interesting 19-lap sprint race.

Championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli, who was promoted to pole after Ollie Goethe's penalty was applied, will be looking to stretch his advantage on Sunday. He currently sits on 188 points, and will bank two further points provided he starts on pole on Sunday.

The Italian sits 19 points ahead of DAMS racer Jak Crawford, who endured a disastrous qualifying session that left him outside the top 10 for the weekend. The same fate befell Hitech's Luke Browning, who sits just eight points away from Crawford in the standings, and 27 behind Fornaroli.

Goethe's teammate Richard Verschoor is still in with a hunt of the title, and will be looking to eat into the deficit when he starts from reverse grid pole in the sprint. The Dutchman sits on 151 points, 37 behind Fornaroli.

Finally, Rodin Motorsport's Alex Dunne sits fifth in the standings on 130 points, 58 points off Fornaroli, with the most work to do if he is to stay in the hunt to win the F2 title

Here's a look at where each contender starts for the sprint, and what they will need to do to stay in contention.

1. Leonardo Fornaroli (Invicta Racing) - 188 points

Starting position in the sprint - Ninth

Qualifying proved to be a dream session for Fornaroli and Invicta Racing, as the two were running at the top of the timesheets for almost the entirety of the 30-minute qualifying session. However, Goethe just pipped the team in yellow to the post, just four hundredths separating both drivers in the timesheets.

However, Goethe's penalty means Fornaroli will start on pole on Sunday. Although, he will still have to navigate the Saturday sprint from ninth on the grid, and ensure he doesn't break a front wing or retire from the race.

With several feisty contenders ahead who have nothing to lose, in the likes of AIX Racing's Joshua Dürksen, Van Amersfoort Racing's Rafael Villagómez, Campos Racing's Nikola Tsolov, the path ahead wouldn't be easy for the championship leader, if he looks to make progress.

The most important thing would be to avoid taking it easy across the weekend, and look to limit the loss of points to other contenders. As Fornaroli himself mentioned after the qualifying session on Friday, "I will approach the races as I always approached to all the year. Even if I have an advantage now compared to my rivals, this means nothing."

2. Jak Crawford (DAMS) - 169 points

Sprint starting position - 15th

Crawford had a torrid qualifying in Qatar | Credit: DAMS

Qualifying in Lusail was one to forget for the DAMS outfit across the board. Both Crawford and teammate Kush Maini weren't at ease with the Qatar kerbs and gravel traps, scampering over the gravel multiple times in the 30-minute qualifying session.

The consequences were more disastrous for Crawford, who ended the session 15th in the order, after his excursion on his penultimate flying lap saw him scamper over the gravel at Turn 14. His final lap wouldn't see improvement, with the tyres well past their best in terms of grip.

With 19 laps in the sprint, a win or a top three result would be out of the bounds for the American driver, unless a late race safety car shakes up the field. However, his goal for the sprint would be to make progress towards the top eight, with hopes of salvaging atleast one point from the sprint.

The start will be crucial, as Crawford will aim to make up positions and stay out of trouble heading into Turn 1.

3. Luke Browning (Hitech TGR) - 161 points

Sprint starting position - 18th

Browning too faces a tough ask from 18th on the grid | Credit: Formula One

Much like Crawford, it was a session to forget for Luke Browning too, who is confined to a lowly grid slot of 18th for both races this weekend. Qualifying proved forgettable for Hitech TGR as a whole, with Beganovic only starting 10th for the sprint after Goethe's grid penalty was applied.

Browning would be faced with an even more daunting prospect to salvage a result from the sprint, and expect to see him far more aggressive during the 19-lap sprint. The start would be important to gain ground, while scoring atleast a point would be considered a solid haul for the British driver.

4. Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) - 151 points

Sprint starting position - First

Verschoor has the best chance of maximising his points haul from the 19 laps of sprint racing around Lusail on Saturday. While qualifying did not seemingly go to plan for the MP Motorsport racer, as he couldn't match Goethe's pace, finishing the session 10th puts him at the front for the sprint.

With overtaking not the easiest around the Lusail circuit, Verschoor's best opportunity to close in would be to make the best start off the five red lights, and stay untroubled at the front of the field.

The 10 points that come with a sprint win would be vital towards staying in the title battle, and bring him closer to Fornaroli, who starts ninth for the race. With Sunday's Feature Race opening up options due to the mandatory pit stop, Verschoor would fancy his chances of climbing up the order. But for now, his sights would be firmly on winning the sprint race.

5. Alex Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) - 130 points

Sprint starting position - Fifth

A measured qualifying session saw Dunne maximise the performance in his Rodin Motorsport to net a fifth position start for both races this weekend.

It gives him the perfect chance to eat into the tallies of his fellow championship contenders, and the sprint opens up a rare opportunity to close up on championship leader Fornaroli as well.

Dunne will be looking to make the most of a top 10 start on Saturday, and make his way up to second, at the very least, during the 19-lap sprint. This result would keep him in contention going into Sunday's Feature Race.

However, should Dunne fall behind Fornaroli by more than 65 points heading into Sunday's Feature Race, he will be eliminated from championship contention. The Irishman currently sits 58 points behind in the standings, and will be looking for a big result to stay in contention.