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ROAD TO F1: Tsunoda leads Carlin one-two in Russia F2 qualifying, as Schumacher takes P3

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SOCHI, RUSSIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Carlin (7) drives during qualifying ahead

Jehan Daruvala led nearly the entirety of Formula 2 qualifying, but it was his fellow Red Bull junior, and Carlin team mate, Yuki Tsunoda, who got the job done when it counted.

The Japanese driver snatched pole in the dying stages at Sochi, just 0.006s ahead of the Indian driver, as Carlin secured the first front-row lockout in F2 qualifying since UNI-Virtuosi did at Silverstone in July 2019.

READ MORE: The lowdown on the tantalising battle between three Ferrari juniors, all vying for the F2 title

The Carlin duo looked untouchable around Sochi, taking first and second in the early stages, and they never relinquished the positions. Daruvala dominated the majority, going 0.2s faster than his team mate at the end of the first stint.

SOCHI, RUSSIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Mick Schumacher of Germany and Prema Racing prepares for practice

Championship leader Mick Schumacher starts third on the grid on Saturday, his rival Callum Ilott fourth

The Indian picked up from where he left off on the second run, slicing another tenth off his time, but Tsunoda had been shrewd with his tyres, saving enough rubber for a final run. The Japanese driver set a stunning final lap to beat his team mate’s time by six-thousandths of a second, with no time to spare on the clock.

Championship leader Mick Schumacher managed third place, directly ahead of his main title rival, Callum Ilott. Setting up a tantalising race start when action gets underway on Saturday at 1015 local time.

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