On Friday, Richard Verschoor secured the pole position during the Formula 2 weekend qualification in Baku. The Dutch driver managed to clock 1:55,655, leaving Andrea Kimi Antonelli behind. This was a surprising result for the Trident driver, who currently ranks twelfth in the championship. Earlier this year, he scored his first pole position during the race weekend in Monaco.
There were thirty minutes on the clock for the qualification at the Baku Street Circuit. Twenty-two drivers, including three debutants from Formula 3, vied for the fastest time. Championship leader Isack Hadjar, part of the Red Bull training program, quickly clocked the fastest lap with a time of 1:57,423. However, within one minute, the Franco-Algerian talent was already pushed to the eleventh place.
Richard Verschoor Secures Pole Position in Trident
Richard Verschoor of Trident finished his first flying lap on the provisional pole, over a second faster than Hadjar’s first attempt. However, disaster struck for Hadjar as the 19-year-old driver crashed into the wall of turn 1. It appeared to be a setup issue, as not long after, teammate Pepe Marti did exactly the same. Red flag!
Session Resumes with Four Minutes Left
With just four minutes left on the clock, the session resumed. Despite the busy track, Verschoor managed to improve his lap. With a time of 1:55,655 UST, he secured pole position, closely followed by future Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian is joined this weekend by Kush Maini. Regular PREMA driver Oliver Bearman is stepping in for Kevin Magnussen, who has received a racing ban for the weekend in Baku.
Upcoming Grand Prix in Azerbaijan
Read all about the upcoming Grand Prix in Azerbaijan.
Please note that the latest edition of FORMULE 1 Magazine is now available in stores and can also be ordered digitally (with free delivery in the Netherlands!). It features everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort, the exciting battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, interviews with George Russell, Rico Verhoeven and Ruud Gullit, reports from the paddock and much more!
