Richard Verschoor’s victory in the Austrian GP F2 Feature Race saw him reclaim the championship lead at the mid-point of the season.
Reflecting on his third race win in Austria, Verschoor described it as one that went in accordance to their plan.
“(It was a) very good start, and from there on, I think on both compounds we had a very good pace.”
Although the gap to rival Alex Dunne may have seemed comfortable, the Dutchman made it clear it was a nerve-racking last few laps.
“Alex didn’t make my life easy today… We both were going flat out, and any mistake would give him any motivation to even push more.”
The pressure that Dunne put on his championship rival meant he not only had to manage his pace but also be strategic about his defensive moves.
“I tried to hang on, even though the rears were degrading quite a bit for me.”
This intense battle between the pair emphasised how close and competitive this championship in 2025 will be.
Verschoor’s trust in MP Motorsport
The exceptional win could not have been possible without his MP Motorsport team. The Dutch driver emphasised the importance of communication with his team throughout the race.
“I was just trying to push as little as I could by not losing time… the more specific they could tell me, the better. So yeah, happy that they helped me well.”
This communication has come from mutual trust between the pair. After several years of inconsistency and brilliant performances, Verschoor finds himself in an environment of stability. One that is helping him perform to his potential.
“I can just feel and see how much knowledge there is inside the team. And that just works very well together with my experience.”
There is a sense of unity that has translated into more productive weekends, allowing Verschoor to approach each session with a clear mindset.
“Every weekend we are going to, I know that I have a good car and that gives me confidence. And the team are starting to trust me more and more in my feedback, in my driving.”
However, this is exactly where the pair expected to be coming into 2025.
“Well, it was the goal going into this season, switching to MP. I always had the feeling that I could be where I am right now.“
Despite leading the championship at the mid-point of the season, Verschoor is approaching the rest of the season with tempered expectations. Verschoor claims the team is still trying to fine-tune their set-up.
“We are still trying certain things, especially qualifying, to make me extract the last few tenths out of the car.”
The championship battle intensifies
The Austrian GP saw yet another weekend where the title leader changed. With the title swinging back into Verschoor’s favour, he remained optimistic about his chances to clinch the title. However, noted that every time he performs well, Alex is close behind.
“Well, enjoying, enjoying is a big word, but of course after a race it’s enjoyable. But every time when I’m there, Alex is there. So I need to make sure that I do the same. When he’s there, I need to be there.”
Luckily for the Dutch driver, Dunne was disqualified following the F2 Feature race for an infringement in his car. Ensuring that his championship lead was extended ahead of Silverstone this weekend.
But despite the tension, there’s mutual respect between the two. When asked to comment on what makes Dunne such a strong competitor, Verschoor didn’t hold back his admiration:
“What Alex is doing at this age, we have to say as well, very young, doing very well, getting up to speed very quickly already from Melbourne.”
“He impressed, I think, everyone even more by doing a super good FP1, if I’m not mistaken, not even on new tyres.”
Turn 3 thoughts
Over the entire weekend, there were several incidents that happened at Turn 3 of the Red Bull Ring. From the dramatic crash in Saturday’s sprint to the final-lap clash between Oliver Goethe and Arvid Lindblad in the Race, the tight uphill hairpin was the scene of contact and controversy.
While turn 3 itself isn’t particularly dangerous, the combination of high-speed approach, late braking, and high kerbs has created issues for drivers over the weekend. Verschoor believes that the issue with the turn does not depend on the layout. Rather, it is more due to the kerbing around the track.
“Yeah, I guess, well, the corner is not necessarily dangerous, but I guess the kerb is a bit dangerous because yesterday we saw the car flip because of the kerb. And today we saw another car flying because of the kerb. So perhaps that’s something to look at.”
