Alpine F1 junior Doohan claims pole for F2 opener in Bahrain

The 2021 Formula 3 runner-up stormed to the top of the timesheets when the majority of the field returned to the pit lane ahead of their final runs.

Doohan went quickest of all with a 1m40.542s to go over 0.5s clear of Jake Hughes, who led the way after the opening handful of laps.

The Australian remained on top to secure his maiden pole position and thus will start from first-place in Sunday's feature race.

For 2022, F2 has reverted to a two-race per weekend format with the sprint race taking on the Saturday ahead of the feature race on the Sunday. 

Doohan will be joined by ART Grand Prix's Theo Pourchaire, who many have tipped to be the favourite for the drivers' title this year.

The Frenchman is the highest-placed returning driver from last year and is part of Sauber's academy as he eyes a drive alongside Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo in 2023.

Red Bull F1 junior Juri Vips qualified third ahead of Williams F1 academy driver Logan Sargeant. 

Ralph Boschung and Liam Lawson left it late to go fifth and sixth respectively, while Jehan Daruvala was seventh in the Prema.

Jake Hughes dropped to eighth having taken provisional pole position earlier in the session.

Richard Verschoor and Felipe Drugovich rounded out the top 10 in qualifying.

Click here for the full FIA Formula 2 qualifying results for the first round in Bahrain