In a thrilling display of strategy and skill, Richard Verschoor from MP Motorsport secured an exhilarating victory in the Formula 2 feature race held in Jeddah, outpacing Jak Crawford in a dramatic last-lap maneuver. Starting from ninth position, Verschoor expertly managed his medium tires over the first 23 laps of the 28-lap race, showcasing his racing acumen and tire management skills. After the race, Feeder Series and selected media outlets caught up with the top three drivers to gain insights into the unfolding events.
Remarkably, Verschoor became the first driver in the history of Formula 2 to clinch a win after more than 100 starts, achieving this milestone on his 107th race. He was joined on the podium by Jak Crawford and Victor Martins, whose combined total of 225 starts is the highest in Formula 2 history. This race was not only significant for Verschoor but also marked an impressive moment for all three drivers involved.
Crawford began the race from pole position, flanked by Martins, with Leonardo Fornaroli and Luke Browning occupying the second row. Interestingly, all drivers in the top four rows opted for supersoft tires at the start, while Verschoor, in ninth, was the first to choose the medium compound. This strategic decision would prove to be crucial as the race progressed.
As the race commenced, the top four drivers maintained their starting positions. Arvid Lindblad, who began the race in fifth, attempted to overtake Browning at the first chicane but was unsuccessful, subsequently falling behind Dunne at Turn 4 and losing another position to Campos teammate Pepe Martí shortly thereafter.
The race took an interesting turn at the start of lap six when Browning made a successful pass on Fornaroli at Turn 1, aided by the activation of DRS for the first time. Dunne also overtook Fornaroli on the inside, leading to a sequence of pit stops as drivers began to switch to different tire strategies. Fornaroli was among the first to pit, indicating the beginning of a strategic tire management game.
Meanwhile, at the rear of the field, Van Amersfoort Racing teammates John Bennett and Rafael Villagómez collided at Turn 27 on lap six, resulting in debris scattered across the track and prompting a virtual safety car on lap nine. This incident came just after the final drivers on the option-prime strategy had completed their pit stops.
During the pit cycle, Martins made a bold move by staying out longer than Crawford, which paid off as he emerged ahead after the pit stops. In a post-race interview, Martins explained his decision to push for an overcut, driven by his struggles with tire performance. “I took the risk when I saw the debris on the track. I wanted to make that overcut,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking in racing.
As the race resumed post-virtual safety car, Martins initially held the lead until Crawford overtook him at the start of lap 12. A DRS train formed behind Browning, with Dunne, Martí, and Minì vying for positions. By the end of lap 16, Martí managed to pass both Dunne and Browning, establishing himself as a formidable contender in the race.
Goethe was the first driver to switch from medium to supersoft tires, entering the pits on lap 20 while holding the fourth position. He emerged in 17th, demonstrating the challenges of tire strategy in Formula 2. Meanwhile, Verschoor continued to clock the fastest laps, maintaining his momentum until he pitted on lap 23, rejoining the race behind Crawford in a net second position.
Reflecting on the race strategy, Martins expressed some frustration at his team for not anticipating Verschoor’s pace, which allowed him to emerge ahead. “If I knew he was going to get out this close in front, I would have maybe pushed a bit more,” he admitted, highlighting the unpredictable nature of racing strategies.
With only a few laps remaining, Verschoor began to close the gap to Crawford, reducing a four-second deficit to less than a second over a series of laps. On the final lap, he made a decisive move on the pit straight, taking the lead and ultimately winning by a margin of 1.701 seconds. Verschoor not only secured the victory but also achieved the fastest lap, with Martins finishing 4.151 seconds behind and Fornaroli, Martí, and Browning completing the top six positions.
Dunne finished seventh on track, but a penalty for an earlier incident dropped him to eighth, allowing Lindblad to claim seventh place. Minì and Kush Maini, who also opted for the alternate tire strategy, rounded out the top ten, showcasing the competitive nature of the race.
After the race, Crawford acknowledged that Verschoor’s strategy was nearly optimal, especially given the absence of a safety car. Despite only securing two points for his pole position up until that point in the season, Crawford felt that his decision to start on supersofts was prudent, prioritizing consistency and point collection over risk.
“I had to go with the safest option. Play it safe, collect the points. I wouldn’t change anything. I’m happy with my decision,” Crawford explained, reinforcing the balance drivers must strike between risk and reward.
For Verschoor, the victory was especially sweet, coming just a day after he was denied a sprint race win due to a controversial five-second penalty. “You’re just in the right window, and you’re feeling it and you’re just going for it,” he shared, expressing his satisfaction with the race performance. He attributed his success to a focused mindset and the support of his engineer, which helped him maintain confidence throughout the race.
“The moments where you can perform, you need to deliver,” Verschoor stated, encapsulating the essence of racing at this level. His ability to capitalize on the situation, along with his strategic tire management, ultimately led to a memorable victory in Jeddah, adding another chapter to the storied history of Formula 2 racing.
