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Verschoor does not rule out Formula 1: 'Colapinto is a perfect example'
- Cas van de Kleut
The ball is in his court, Richard Verschoor will finish the Formula 2 season at MP Motorsport and will continue driving for that team in 2025. Driving for a top Formula 2 team will give the 23-year-old Dutchman a chance to showcase himself. So is Verschoor still holding out some hope for Formula 1? He answered this question during an interview with GPblog.
Is the step to Formula 1 still possible for Verschoor?
Formula 2 is designed to prepare young talents for Formula 1. In recent seasons, the flow from the feeder series up to Formula 1 has been a bit more difficult. However for next season, this will change as we will see at least three drivers who have competed in Formula 2 this year with full-time seats at a Formula 1 team next season. That is Andrea Kimi Antonelli going to Mercedes, Oliver Bearman to Haas and F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto who will drive for Stake F1 Team. In addition, former Formula 2 driver Jack Doohan has claimed his seat at Alpine next year, and Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto also still have a chance of signing a contract for a full season.
Although Verschoor rates his chances of a future Formula 1 seat as low, he also recognises that it is still a possibility. "Even if there is a one per cent chance, you have to go for it. So I will never rule it out, but I do know that the chance becomes less the longer you are in Formula 2."
"On the other hand, timing is of course super important," Verschoor continued. "Colapinto is a perfect example. [Between him and me] it was pretty even in many races. And then suddenly he comes into Formula 1 and shows it fully. That's how it can go, of course. Bearman had a bit of that too, of course. So yes, sometimes you just have to get the chance to show up. That is not for everyone, but I secretly hope there is still a very small chance."
Verschoor wants to show who Richard Verschoor is
Verschoor made his debut in Formula 2 on behalf of MP Motorsport in 2021. During that season, he also entered one race for Charouz, before moving to Italian Trident in 2022. In 2023, the Dutchman came into action at Van Amersfoort Racing, before returning to Trident this season. However, he will not finish the season with the Italian team.
Verschoor will in fact move to MP Motorsport. That team is currently third in the championship, behind Invicta Racing and Campos Racing. The four-time Formula 2 race winner already knows that he will be in action next season on behalf of the Dutch team.
So next year, Verschoor will be driving his fifth season in Formula 2. This is something he did not see coming five years ago. "I just did not see myself doing it. I thought: 'One, two years maximum'. Only yes, sometimes life does turn out differently. I think a lot of people might ask: 'Why drive Formula 2 for five years?'"
The Dutch driver continued, "A number of times, of course, I entered into something with a team where actually the results were not as you wanted. And I just don't feel, again this year, that I was able to show what I can really do, so to speak. I just think we were often not quite right with the setup this year. And in many races that did go well once, we were rejected. And that still puts you tenth [in the championship], instead of fourth or fifth."
Verschoor therefore has one goal in 2025, and that is to show who Richard Verschoor is, "Yes, preferably. That's really the goal though. I really believe it's in there. I think I have changed a lot over the past few years. And that should all come out a bit now, I hope."
Along with MP Motorsport, there were four top teams that Verschoor wanted to attract for next season. Which other teams knocked on his door, the Dutch driver cannot tell. "At least they are all in the top five of the championship, if I say so correctly."
'We want to win F2 championship!'
For now, the focus for the Dutchman is on the last two races of the season and next season. In terms of results in 2025, Verschoor does still have a clear objective, "We just want to become champions. Otherwise you shouldn't do it, I think. Then you shouldn't even discuss it with each other. That's also how we started the conversation with each other. We want to do this together. Because MP too could have signed other talents or experienced drivers. But they really do believe in it. And that is the conversation we did have: 'If we do it, we just go for it'. And no bullshit, Dutch style. Just don't bullshit, but clean up. That's kind of the attitude this year, so we're really looking forward to that."
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