MP Motorsport raced under the Arabian lights at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar for the first time. Known previously for late-season heat in Formula 1, this round of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season introduced fresh variables: cooler conditions, stronger winds, and a revamped driver line-up. With Richard Verschoor returning to MP Motorsport and joining forces with Oliver Goethe, the team looked forward to exploring new horizons in this penultimate round of the season.
Free Practice
The weekend began under breezy conditions on Friday. Despite the gusts, both Richard and Ollie quickly adapted to the circuit’s demands. They consistently ran in the top five throughout the session, ultimately finishing with Richard in P3 and Ollie in P4. This strong start hinted at the potential of our team.
Qualifying
As night fell, it was time to set the grid. Qualifying proved tricky as drivers wrestled with relentless winds and evolving grip levels. Richard hovered around the top ten, battling closely with championship contenders for a prime spot. Ollie initially sat down in P19 but steadily found his rhythm as the track conditions improved.
In the closing stages, the circuit rubbered in, providing a brief window for all drivers to improve their times. Richard secured P5, setting him up nicely for both the Sprint and Feature Races. Ollie, on a promising flyer, made a few errors in the final sector, landing him P8. Though not perfect, it set Ollie up for a P3 start in the reverse-grid Sprint Race—an excellent opportunity to fight at the front.
Sprint Race
Under the floodlights on Saturday, both drivers took their positions in the top five of the reversed grid. Ollie launched from P3 and Richard from P5. The start proved challenging, as Ollie lost ground and Richard maintained position, both struggling to immediately capitalize on their promising spots.
By lap 5, technical issues struck Ollie’s car, forcing him into an early retirement that brought out the Virtual Safety Car. Richard remained focused, using the mid-race battles ahead to care for his tires. As the contest wore on, tire wear and driver errors shuffled the order. Richard carefully picked his moments, overtaking rivals and steadily climbing the leaderboard.
A late incident triggered a safety car, bunching the field and providing Richard the chance to secure a podium spot. In a mature and strategic drive, he claimed P3 at the checkered flag, marking his first podium since returning to MP Motorsport and scoring valuable points for the team battle in the championship.
Feature Race
Sunday’s Feature Race brought warmer conditions and a busier track, with teams pushing harder than ever. Richard started from P5, and Ollie from P8. The opening corners were hectic as multiple cars went side-by-side into Turn 1. Richard emerged unscathed but lost ground after a crowded exchange, and Ollie slipped two spots.
As the race progressed, Ollie’s hard tires found their sweet spot, enabling him to overtake back into P9 by lap 4. An unfortunately timed pit stop and slight mishap in the pits cost Richard track position and led to a puncture. He rejoined further down the field with a time penalty, dropping him outside the top ten in P20.
Frequent safety cars disrupted the race’s flow, and with the clock ticking down, strategic calls became even more important. Ollie took full advantage of these restarts, executing a stunning double overtake in the closing laps to vault himself into contention for a podium finish. Ultimately, a late penalty for the race leader nearly gifted Ollie a top-three spot, but he narrowly missed out, finishing just off the podium in P4. Richard battled back to P11, showing a solid pace despite earlier setbacks.
Looking Ahead
Qatar provided a mixture of highs and lows, from Richard’s immediate podium return to Ollie’s brilliant late-race moves. Both drivers showcased pace and adaptability through the weekend, influenced by wind, strategy calls, and tight racing. With one final round remaining at Yas Marina, MP Motorsport aims to finish the season on a high note, clinching P3 in the Team’s Championship and sitting with 3 of our drivers in the top 10 of the Drivers Championship.
Standings after Round 13 in Qatar:
P9 Richard Verschoor – 88 Points
P23 Oliver Goethe – 12 Points
Teams Standings:
P3 MP Motorsport – 200.5 Points
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