Liam Lawson on tentative Monaco pole as breathtaking crash ends Formula 2 qualifying

Liam Lawson qualified on provisional pole for the Formula 2 weekend in Monaco pending the outcome of a stewards investigation.

With qualifying split into two groups around the tight circuit, Lawson set the fastest time in the dying stages of the first group despite yellow flags at the start/finish line.

"It's definitely pretty cool," said Lawson.

"The lap itself was really nice."

"After yesterday, the car felt really good, so the pace was there."

"We just needed to put it together."

"I'm just excited now to have a good start on Sunday and hopefully put us back in a good position."

Felipe Drugovich had set the fastest time on the initial runs and clipped the barrier on his final attempt, with his stranded MP Motorsport car just metres away from the finish line.

Lawson and Ayumu Iwasa both bested Drugovich's time despite the crashed car, leaving the stewards to decide if Lawson's pole will hold.

"I didn't see the car until we went round.." said Lawson, cautiously optimistically that his time would stand.

"I wasn't aware that he was there until it was too late."

In the second group it was Frenchman Theo Pourchaire who set the fastest time to put him on the front row alongside Lawson for the feature race.

A hefty hit for Jake Hughes after contact with the barrier and kerb 😩

Thankfully the @VARmotorsport driver was all OK 👍#MonacoGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/II7Qs1seVaMay 27, 2022

The session was brought to an end when Jake Hughes had a dramatic airborne collision in the swimming pool section, leaving the car under his own power.

Should the results stand, Hughes will start the reverse-grid sprint race on pole before Lawson leads away the feature race on Sunday.

Fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong qualified ninth, putting him on the front row for the sprint outing.

Aussie Jack Doohan qualified seventh, putting him on the second row for the sprint, with Calan Williams in fifteenth.

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2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship - Monaco Qualifying Group A

1. Liam Lawson (NZ)
2. Ayumu Iwasa
3. Felipe Drugovich
4. Jack Doohan (AUS)
5. Marcus Armstrong (NZ)
6. Dennis Hauger
7. Ralph Boschung
8. Calan Williams
9. Frederik Vesti
10. Amaury Cordeel
11. Cem Bolukbasi

2022 FIA  Formula 2 Championship - Monaco Qualifying Group B

1. Theo Pourchaire
2. Juri Vips
3. Enzo Fittipaldi
4. Jehan Daruvala
5. Jake Hughes
6. Roy Nissany
7. Logan Sargeant
8. Clement Novalak
9. Marino Sato
10. Olli Caldwell
11. Richard Verschoor - DNF

2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship - Monaco Qualifying Combined

1. Liam Lawson (NZ)
2. Theo Pourchaire
3. Ayumu Iwasa
4. Juri Vips
5. Felipe Drugovich
6. Enzo Fittipaldi
7. Jack Doohan (AUS)
8. Jehan Daruvala
9. Marcus Armstrong (NZ)
10. Jake Hughes
11. Dennis Hauger
12. Roy Nissany
13. Ralph Boschung
14. Logan Sargeant
15. Calan Williams (AUS)
16. Clement Novalak
17. Frederik Vesti
18. Marino Sato
19. Amaury Cordeel
20. Olli Caldwell
21. Cem Bolukbasi
22. Richard Verschoor - DNF