Rafael Câmara secured pole position at Monza in Formula 2. The Brazilian from Invicta Racing was less than a tenth of a second faster than teammate Joshua Duerksen with a time of 1:31.326. Alexander Dunne completed the top three, but especially the bizarre final phase of qualifying drew attention. With less than a minute on the clock, the drivers crawled slowly towards the start/finish line, hoping above all not to give a slipstream to a competitor.
Read more Formula 1 announces next F1 Live event, hosts three-day spectacle in Milan
Câmara already had the fastest time halfway through the session, after he displaced Noel León from first place. However, the real chaos broke out in the last minutes. Most drivers first dived into the pit lane at the Temple of Speed to create the best exit position for a slipstream. At the same time, a smaller group formed on the track, led by Mari Boya, which included championship leader Tsolov among others.
Towards the Parabolica, no one in this group dared to take the lead and thus risk losing the chance of a slipstream. As a result, the cars – still led by Mari Boya – crawled towards the start/finish line. Roman Bilinski eventually gave the start signal and sped past the ‘peloton’, after which all drivers went full throttle for one last fast lap. In the end, Câmara remained on top and Invicta Racing could count on a one-two on the starting grid. Duerksen finished second, Dunne third, ahead of León and Martinius Stenshorne. Tsolov was sixth. The Dutchman Laurens van Hoepen clocked the eighteenth time.
Read more Laurent Mekies clear about restored podium place GP Monaco: ‘In the interest of the sport’
It wouldn’t be a Monza Qualifying session without some slipstream games 😅#F2 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/TUC51GSjGn
Read more VT1 GP Italy: Max Verstappen misses practice, Charles Leclerc sets fastest time
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 4, 2026
Read everything about the Italian GP here
