F2 Spanish Grand Prix – Sprint Race: Richard Verschoor takes advantage of the safety car to win
Richard Verschoor took advantage of the safety car that returned a few laps from the end of the sprint race to win the race by force, thanks to his new tires. A number of drivers who imitated his strategy made excellent comebacks. Victor Martins finished 6th, Sami Meguetounif 10th.
The sprint race of the Formula 2 Spanish Grand Prix saw Dutchman Richard Verschoor claim victory for the 6th time in his career. The sprint race saw its standings completely overturned after the safety car was deployed. Some drivers took the opportunity to change tires and put on the soft compounds, allowing them to make a difference in the final laps of the sprint race and shake up the top 10.
17 quiet opening laps
The first 17 laps of the sprint race in F2 were calm. The top 10 in qualifying, reversed for the sprint race, remained more or less homogeneous, with Luke Browning and Jack Crawford leading the pack after the first laps. Jack Crawford took the lead after the 4th lap and maintained this position until almost the end of the sprint race.
Poorly qualified, the French do not take advantage of this start to stand out. Victor Martins is 17th, Sami Meguetounif, 14th.
Safety car surprise
On the 16th lap, Gabriele Mini tries to overtake his teammate, Sebastien Montoya (son of F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya). The young Colombian defends a bit too aggressively into the first corner and loses his car, which slightly contacts Mini and causes the safety car to be deployed.
This entry of the safety car shakes up the strategic possibilities. In a sprint race where it’s not necessary to pit for a tire change, most drivers outside the top 10 see it as an opportunity. Thus, Alex Dunne, Richard Verschoor, Victor Martins, Samy Meguetournif, and many others take advantage of it to change tires and put on the soft tires.
As the safety car returns to the pit on lap 20, there are 6 laps left for the drivers to make a difference. Verschoor is then tenth and will overtake the drivers ahead of him one by one to emerge as the new leader with 3 laps to go. Alex Dunne, imitating his strategy, was also able to seize this opportunity to climb onto the podium.
Victor Martins’ Monumental Achievement
Victor Martins, who was also well on his way to following the movement of these two mentioned drivers, could have taken an unexpected podium, but a slight excursion into the gravel while overtaking drivers on worn tires caused him to lose several positions and ground on the two leaders. He eventually finished 6th with a remarkable comeback in the last four laps and a monumental overtaking maneuver on the outside of three drivers on lap 24.
In the championship, Alex Dunne’s podium allows him to take the lead in the drivers’ standings. The rookie continues to impress despite his aggressiveness.
Sprint race results of the Formula 2 Spanish Grand Prix
Belle course sprint en F2
Magnifique dépassement sur trois pilotes à l’exté au tour 24 de @VictorMartinsFR pic.twitter.com/WcFLpEkAf0— Motors Inside F1 (@MotorsInside) May 31, 2025
