In a thrilling and dramatic Formula 2 qualifying session on the streets of Baku, American driver Jak Crawford showcased nerves of steel to claim his second pole position of the 2025 F2 season. The 20-year-old Hitech Pulse-Eight racer delivered a perfect performance, mastering the unique challenges of the Azerbaijani capital’s tight corners and high-speed straights, and emerging on top after a tense late-session red flag shook up the order.
Baku’s iconic circuit has long been famous among motorsport fans for providing chaos and excitement, thanks to its combination of medieval city walls and flat-out sprint sections along the Caspian Sea shoreline. Qualifying here is always a high-wire act for young drivers hungry to make an impression en route to Formula 1. This year’s session did not disappoint, presenting a session packed with drama, strategy gambles, and a nail-biting finish, as championship contenders jostled for optimal track position.
Crawford’s final flying lap was perfectly timed, snatching pole just seconds before a late crash brought out red flags and prematurely ended the session. With marshals scrambling to clear the debris, the American’s effort stood unchallenged, allowing him to celebrate at the heart of Baku – a result that could prove pivotal in the context of this fiercely contested championship battle.
Much of the excitement centered on the strategic timing of lap attempts. With yellow flags and narrow escape routes commonplace around Baku’s unforgiving layout, drivers and teams were forced to roll the dice with session management. The specter of a red flag always loomed, threatening to foil any hopes of a late push. Crawford, aware of this, made his move at precisely the right moment. His lap was a masterclass in commitment—balancing risk and reward as he brushed precariously close to the barriers through Turn 8 and lit up the timing screens in the sector three power section.
While Crawford’s cool head earned him pole, others were not so fortunate. Multiple favorites found themselves thwarted by traffic or forced to lift for yellow flags, unable to string together a clean lap when it mattered most. This cat-and-mouse struggle elevated the tension for both teams and fans glued to the pit wall monitors. The eventual red flag, caused by an ambitious overtaking attempt resulting in a broken suspension for a front-runner, froze the leaderboard and sealed Crawford’s position at the top.
Following the session, Crawford was quick to credit his mechanics and race engineers, acknowledging their strategic brilliance in calling him out at just the right time. He also spoke of the mental resilience required to absorb the intense Baku atmosphere—a circuit that rewards the brave but punishes even the slightest miscalculation. The young American’s performance not only boosts his grid position for the Feature Race but sends a clear message to the championship contenders: he is a force to be reckoned with this season.
Behind Crawford, the rest of the front row was fiercely contested. His closest rivals found themselves separated by mere tenths, with several team principals expressing both relief and regret at how the red flag shaped the final order. For those fans tracking future F1 stars, Baku once again demonstrated why F2 is a breeding ground for raw, high-stakes drama. As the race weekend continues, all eyes will be on Crawford and his ability to convert this hard-fought pole into valuable championship points.
Baku remains a standout venue in the Formula 2 calendar—its unpredictability as captivating as ever. With a grid reshuffled by last-minute chaos and key players out of position, the upcoming races promise plenty of overtaking, calculated risks, and no shortage of on-track fireworks. For those following the battle for supremacy between F2’s next generation of talent, the 2025 Azerbaijan weekend is already delivering must-watch motorsport.
