Following a disappointing disqualification in Budapest, Dutch racer Richard Verschoor made a strong comeback. The Formula 2 driver fought his way to a podium finish, trailing behind Mercedes prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli and ART Grand Prix driver Victor Martins. However, Formula 3 driver Laurens van Hoepen wasn’t as fortunate, losing his second place due to disqualification.
Verschoor faced a similar fate on Saturday during the Formula 2 sprint race, just like Van Hoepen did a day later. After the sprint race, it was found that the plank under his car floor was excessively worn out. This led to Verschoor’s disqualification and loss of his first place in the sprint race. Despite this setback, the Dutch driver bounced back on Sunday with a third-place finish in the Formula 2 main race, although this did little to ease the sting of his earlier disqualification.
Reflections on Disqualification
“I wasn’t really angry at the team, but mostly disappointed,” Verschoor reflects a day later. “This isn’t the first time, it’s already the third time I’ve been disqualified after a victory. I wasn’t very happy yesterday and that turned out to be good, as the dip in emotion was slightly less. But of course, it’s another victory that’s gone, another trophy you can’t take home and again points that are gone. It’s a tough season, but I never give up and I don’t blame my team.”
Therefore, after his podium finish on Sunday in Hungary, Verschoor remains cautious. “In the end, it is what it is, but I hope I can still celebrate this podium finish in an hour or two. I’m just waiting, because you never know with me,” says the Formula 2 driver.
Van Hoepen Also Disqualified
Compatriot and Formula 3 driver Laurens van Hoepen also knows what it feels like to lose a podium place due to disqualification. A day after Verschoor’s disqualification, the Dutchman suffered the same fate in Formula 3. The FIA found Van Hoepen’s car to be too light during an inspection. As a result, driver Noel Leon moves up a place and is the new winner of the Formula 3 race.
