Frenchman edges Mathilda Wiberg by 0.015 seconds for pole position as fuel dramas and Sacchi crash shake up qualifying order
Peter Morin claimed a crucial pole position for Sunday’s UIM F2 World Championship finale at Vila Velha de Ródão, edging championship contender Mathilda Wiberg by just 0.015 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session that saw crashes, fuel shortages, and championship implications at every turn.
The veteran Frenchman’s time of 48.746 seconds in Q3 secured his fourth pole position of the season and puts him in the perfect position to capitalise on any championship drama ahead of him when the lights go out on Sunday.
Championship Front Row Drama
Mathilda Wiberg’s front-row start alongside Morin could prove decisive in her bid to become the first woman ever to win a Formula-class world championship. Her Q3 lap of 48.761—just fifteen thousandths slower than Morin—demonstrates she has the pace to challenge for victory.
However, championship leader Hilmer Wiberg faces a much tougher task from fifth position after a disappointing qualifying session. The Swede’s best Q3 effort of 51.264 left him over two and a half seconds off his sister’s pace, though fuel issues may have compromised his final attempts to improve.
Both Edgaras Riabko and Hilmer ran out of fuel during the crucial Q3 session, highlighting the delicate balance teams must strike between performance and fuel conservation. For Hilmer, the fuel shortage couldn’t have come at a worse time, potentially costing him crucial grid positions in his championship defence.
Sacchi’s Dramatic Exit
Giacomo Sacchi’s qualifying session ended in dramatic fashion during Q2 when the Monaco driver suffered a significant accident that prevented him from taking part in the decisive Q3 session. Fortunately, Sacchi emerged unharmed from the incident, but his championship hopes have taken another blow.
The crash means Sacchi will start sixth on Sunday’s grid, his Q2 time of 51.188 ultimately determining his starting position. For a driver who needs victory and chaos ahead to have any championship chance, starting from row three represents a significant handicap.
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in powerboat racing, with one mistake potentially ending championship aspirations in an instant.
Palfreyman’s Speed Struggle
Matthew Palfreyman’s weekend took another disappointing turn when he failed to progress beyond Q2, missing out on the top-six shootout by a significant margin. The British driver’s candid assessment of his performance was brutally honest.
“I just couldn’t find the speed to progress to Q3,” Palfreyman admitted after his Q2 time of 51.995 left him seventh on the grid. His championship hopes, already slim after zero points in Portugal, have now effectively evaporated with a difficult grid position for Sunday’s finale.
The struggle highlights the unforgiving nature of championship-deciding weekends, where even experienced competitors can find themselves unable to extract the performance needed when it matters most.
Portuguese Promise
Local favourite Duarte Benavente provided home fans with reasons for optimism by securing fourth position on the grid, his Q3 time of 49.304 putting the former world champion in prime position to influence Sunday’s championship battle.
Benavente’s pace throughout qualifying—consistently in the top four across all three sessions—suggests he possesses the speed to fight for podium positions and potentially play kingmaker in the title fight.
Qualifying Results
Pos |
Num |
Driver |
Country |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
11 |
Peter Morin |
FRA |
50.892 |
50.824 |
48.746 |
2 |
7 |
Mathilda Wiberg |
SWE |
50.889 |
50.820 |
48.761 |
3 |
41 |
Edgaras Riabko (Fuel) |
LTU |
51.164 |
50.936 |
49.195 |
4 |
45 |
Duarte Benavente |
POR |
51.056 |
50.683 |
49.304 |
5 |
70 |
Hilmer Wiberg (Fuel) |
SWE |
51.968 |
51.797 |
51.264 |
6 |
74 |
Giacomo Sacchi (Crash in Q2) |
MON |
51.900 |
51.188 |
— |
7 |
14 |
Matthew Palfreyman |
GBR |
51.646 |
51.995 |
— |
8 |
18 |
Stefan Arand |
EST |
51.455 |
52.035 |
— |
9 |
25 |
Tino Lehto |
FIN |
51.939 |
52.172 |
— |
10 |
1 |
Rashed Al Qemzi |
UAE |
52.477 |
52.295 |
— |
11 |
33 |
Nelson Morin |
FRA |
52.060 |
52.732 |
— |
12 |
96 |
Roope Virtanen |
FIN |
52.209 |
52.809 |
— |
13 |
9 |
Mette Bjerknæs |
GBR |
52.543 |
— |
— |
14 |
36 |
Salem Al Yafei |
UAE |
52.549 |
— |
— |
15 |
3 |
Owen Jelf |
GBR |
52.696 |
— |
— |
16 |
2 |
Johan Österberg |
SWE |
53.178 |
— |
— |
17 |
27 |
André Solvang |
NOR |
DNS |
— |
— |
18 |
77 |
Tobias Munthe-Kaas |
NOR |
DNS |
— |
— |
Championship Mathematics
Sunday’s grid positions have significantly altered the championship mathematics heading into the finale:
Mathilda Wiberg (34 points, P2): Perfectly positioned on the front row to challenge for the victory she needs to claim the historic title. Her pace advantage over brother Hilmer could prove decisive.
Hilmer Wiberg (39 points, P5): Faces a difficult task from fifth on the grid. Must finish ahead of Mathilda to retain his championship lead, but fuel issues and qualifying pace suggest Sunday will be challenging.
Peter Morin (32 points, Pole): The veteran’s pole position gives him the perfect platform to capitalise on any championship drama. Needs victory and misfortune for both Wibergs to claim the title.
With the championship fight now featuring a front-row starter (Mathilda) against a fifth-place starter (Hilmer), Sunday’s race promises to deliver the drama that has defined this exceptional season.
The stage is set for a championship finale that could see history made on multiple fronts—whether through Mathilda’s potential breakthrough or the triumph of experience over youth through Morin or the continued success of the Wiberg family name.