Callum Ilott was once again the man to beat in Formula 𓃲2 qualifying as heꦅ claimed his fifth pole position of the season.

Ilott’s pole in Bahrain means he closes the gap to championsh🌳ip leader Mick Schumacher to 18 points, with four points behind handed𝐆 to the polesitter in F2.

Schumacher struggled for pace throughout qualifying and is set to start tomorrow’s feature race from ten꧟th on t🐓he grid.

It wasn’t plain sailing for the other championship hopefuls with Yuki Tsunoda set to start from the back of the grid having spun his Carlin at Turn 12 resulting in tꦓhe first red flag period.

Tsunoda had been on course to move into second place behind Ilott but caꦏrried too much speed Turn 12, eventually spinning off at Turn 13.

The Jap𒐪anese driver was unable🌸 to get his Carlin car going again and will be forced to start from 22nd on the grid.

Once Tsunoda’s car was cleared, the order didn’t🍸 change too m🔯uch as the wind picked up.

Ilott’s time remained untouched, while Felip✨e Drugovich got within 0.4ꦉs of the Ferrari junior to qualify second.

D﷽an Ticktum will start third ahead of Marcus Armstrong and Gꦛuanyu Zhou.

Giuliano Alesi enjoyed one of his finest performances of the season in sixth place but cꦚaused the second red flag of the session as he ground to a halt at Turn 1 in the dying few minutes.

Nikita Mazepin will start from seventh and has an outside shot of the title, trailing Schum♉ac꧟her by 51 points going into this weekend’s event.

Jeh☂an D⭕aruvala and Christian Lundgaard will line up just ahead of Schumacher in eighth and ninth place.