Richard Verschoor may take part in Friday's first F1 practice
Twenty-two-year-old Dutchman Richard Verschoor began his third season in Formula 2 with the team VAN Amersfoort Racing and after three stages is the tenth line in the championship. On his account are two wins in F2, as well as the 11th and 12th positions at the end of the championships in 2021 and 2022.
Many people will think that his career is very unremarkable, and the most notable event was winning the Macau Grand Prix in 2019, as well as the title of the Spanish F4 in the distant 2016. But it was about Richard that Günther Steiner, team principal of Haas, mentioned, as if in passing.
He hinted that he considers Verschoor as a candidate for participation in the mandatory training of the newcomer and not anywhere, but in the homeland of Richard, in the Netherlands. Thus there is a chance that at the Dutch Grand Prix during the first practice we will see three Dutchmen on the track: Max Verstappen, Nick de Vries and Richard Verschoor.
True, not everything is as colorful as it may seem. The head of Haas noted that first of all everything will depend on the Scuderia Ferrari.
’’I am talking to Ferrari in the coming weeks. If they don't claim Zandvoort then I give you a big chance.’’
From this it is clear that some influence on the American team still has Ferrari. Verschoor will be able to drive Friday's practice with Haas only if the Italian team and the supplier of motors for Haas does not insist on the participation of their junior.
Of the contenders to compete in Friday's practice, there are only three: Robert Shwartzman, Antonio Giovinazzi and Arthur Leclerc. Last year Antonio was at the wheel of Alfa Romeo, for Robert will be quite familiar to sit behind the wheel directly Ferrari again, so in fact the only obstacle for Richard is Arthur. At the moment of all the Ferrari Driver Academy only the younger Leclerc has the necessary number of points in the super license, to drive a Formula 1 car, and surely Ferrari will want to give a chance to the young pilot to prove himself.
So at the moment everything depends solely on the management of the Ferrari, and Richard only have to wait and improve the results in the championship of Formula 2, to improve his chances.