Verschoor Climbs from Ninth to Win Thrilling Jeddah Feature Race

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Richard Verschoor of MP Motorsport executed a dramatic comeback from ninth on the grid to secure victory in the Jeddah Feature Race on April 20, 2025. After crossing the finish line first during Saturday’s Sprint Race, Verschoor faced a five-second time penalty that stripped him of the win. He rebounded impressively in the Feature Race, showcasing his strategic acumen and race pace.

Verschoor opted for an alternative strategy, starting on medium compound tires and extending his first stint. His decision paid off as he registered multiple fastest laps even as his tires wore down. With just four laps remaining, he relentlessly chased race leader Jak Crawford of DAMS, closing the gap significantly. Once his new supersoft tires came to temperature, Verschoor entered DRS range and executed the race-winning maneuver, passing Crawford in the first corner of the final lap.

Crawford finished second after starting from pole position, marking his first podium of the 2025 season. ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins claimed third place, narrowly holding off Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli. Verschoor’s victory propelled him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship, with 53 points. His closest rival, Josep María Martí of Campos Racing, sits second with 41 points following a fifth-place finish in the Feature Race.

“It was tough. I was doing 28 qualifying laps. I think our pace was just very strong,” Verschoor said after the race. “To be honest, when the race started, I wasn’t happy with the balance. But the more the race went on, the car came alive.”

The Jeddah feature race witnessed intense competition from the start. Verschoor, starting from ninth, utilized aggressive overtaking tactics, moving up into the top five within the first few laps. A crucial moment came on Lap 7 when many drivers, including Fornaroli, Martí, and Gabriele Minì, made their mandatory pit stops, allowing Verschoor to gain free air.

Crawford, leading at that point, had to pit shortly after but faced challenges rejoining the circuit. Despite a strong performance during the initial laps, the pressure from other contenders, particularly Verschoor, took its toll. Verschoor’s late stop for supersoft tires set him up for an exhilarating chase.

As the laps wore on, a Virtual Safety Car deployment briefly aided drivers who had not yet pitted. However, once racing resumed, Crawford struggled to fend off Verschoor’s advances. The Dutch driver’s relentless pace allowed him to cut a 26.8-second gap down to just a handful of seconds with only a few laps remaining, showcasing impressive skill throughout the race.

Martins, finishing in third, reflected on the dynamics of the race, particularly Verschoor’s remarkable charge. He stated, “It was an incredible race to manage my pace, but Richard showed phenomenal speed today.”

The standings following the Jeddah Feature Race see Verschoor leading the championship, while the teams’ rankings place Campos Racing atop with 65 points, closely followed by MP Motorsport at 59. Invicta Racing is situated in third place with 48 points.

The next round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship will be held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola from May 16-18, as drivers prepare for further intense competition.