F2: PIASTRI TAKES POLE AT MONZA
Australian Oscar Piastri has extended his FIA Formula 2 Championship lead after taking pole position at Monza.
The reigning Formula 3 champion sat on top of the timesheets for much of the session, however in the closing minutes was demoted down to fourth as many drivers improved on their final attempts.
However, the Australian had them covered, setting the fastest lap with just a minute left of the session.
By taking pole, Piastri earned four championship points and therefore extended his championship lead.
It was a very tight session up the top with the Prema Racing driver taking pole by just 0.041s from Red Bull Racing junior Jehan Daruvala.
On the second row, Piastri’s closest championship rival and fellow Alpine junior qualified third, the Chinese driver briefly held pole but was demoted to row two.
New Zealander Liam Lawson, another Red Bull junior qualified fourth, 0.184s from pole and ahead of Brazilian Felipe Drugovich.
As always at Monza drivers were doing everything they could to pick up a slipstream.
Ralph Boschung was no exception, he was leading the pack as he went out for the final time, but elected to pit and rejoin the train at the back to pick up the best tow.
It paid off, the Swiss driver equalled his career best qualifying result with a sixth position on the grid.
ART Grand Prix driver Theo Pourchaire qualified in seventh ahead of championship contenders, Englishman Dan Ticktum and Red Bull junior Juri Vips.
German David Beckmann rounded out the top 10, however this will see him start the inverted top 10 grid race this afternoon from pole position.
Lirim Zendeli qualified in 11th, just missing out on the inverted pole slot.
Notably Piastri’s Prema Racing teammate, the inform Robert Shwartzman qualified a disappointing 12th.
Enzo Fittipaldi, Marino Sato, Roy Nissany and Jake Hughes rounded out the top 16.
Kiwi Marcus Armstrong was 17th from Bent Viscaal, Christian Lundgaard, Richard Verschoor, Guilherme Samaia and Alessio Deledda rounded out the 22-car field.
Race 2 this afternoon begins at 4.30pm AEST and can be seen live on Fox Sports 506.
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