The F1 hopeful living two lives to keep his dream alive

Climbing the single-seater ladder to Formula 1 is an arduous task at best, but imagine having to lead effectively two lives just to earn a spot on the Formula 2 grid.

That is exactly the situation facing 2019 Macau Grand Prix winner Richard Verschoor as he strives to not only impress F1 teams, but to just be in a viable position to compete in F2.

Unlike the vast majority of his rivals, Verschoor is operating without a manager and running an old school approach of securing funding, speaking to sponsors and brokering deals on his own to establish a racing budget to keep his F1 dream alive. It is a battle even before the pressures of racing for your career on track, once the flag drops.

The 20-year-old Dutchman, who was dropped by Red Bull in 2017 after claiming a Formula 4 title double in the SMP and Spanish series the year before, describes his somewhat unique situation quite simply.

“It is two different lives basically. At the race track I need to be a racing driver, but away from the race track I am more like a businessman that talks with partners,” FIA Formula 3 graduate Verschoor tells Autosport.

Verschoor has now become accustomed to brokering last minute deals; his latest with the MP Motorsport squad he has raced with on-and-off since 2017 coming on the eve of last month's F2 season opener in Bahrain.

Podium: Race winner Richard Verschoor, MP Motorsport, F3 2019

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

“I have got a bit used to this sort of thing in the past, but of course Formula 2 is something different,” he says. “It is not always easy. I don’t have any management or anything, I do everything myself, so I’m speaking to my partners and everyone around me is all by myself.

“I think a lot of drivers are in a different position compared to me on that side, but at the end of the day I have to do it to make it happen. If I just sit at home and do nothing then I wouldn’t be driving in Bahrain.”

That final point is telling, further emphasising his situation in black and white - no funding means no racing and a premature end to his F1 dreams.

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Securing sponsorship has always been a taxing prospect and this task has been made even more difficult during these uncertain COVID-19 times, with many companies scaling back on marketing opportunities.

"Of course it is easier to talk [to sponsors] than if I had been at the back all the time. I really hope it helps because I do need it" Richard Verschoor

F2 is not a budget series, with a price tag of approximately €2 million to contest a season. Such is the cost of a chance that could lead to the ultimate goal for any aspiring single-seater driver - an F1 seat.

There is plenty of pressure on Verschoor to perform, especially given his place on the grid is far from secure for the full season. He says he is reasonably confident of racing in the next round in Monaco next month, but that is all he can focus on for now.

“I’m in contact with some people, but some things are pretty difficult at the moment and maybe some of that is to do with COVID,” he says.

“I definitely need to work my arse off away from the track to make it happen. Now that I have come this far I really want to finish it. In my days I am confident that I will do everything I can, but I’m not confident if it is enough or not.

Richard Verschoor, MP Motorsport and Dan Ticktum, Carlin

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“It is not easy, luckily I have good communication about it with the team. At the end of the day, there is not much I can do, I have to take the opportunities that I get. Bahrain was OK and I just need to keep doing that.”

Yet he wouldn’t have it any other way. Verschoor is a grafter, who is determined to succeed not only on the track but off it too. Asked if he has tried to find a manager to help alleviate his task, Verschoor says: “I have been talking sometimes with a few people but there is not space for me to do so. For now it works out so for me if I can keep it in my own hands, it should work.”

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Knowing the hurdles he’s cleared to secure the funding to make Bahrain, it was admirable to see how he put that aside and focused on the critical driving component to fight inside the top six in all three races. After qualifying fifth, he was taken out of the reversed-grid race one by Dan Ticktum, fought from last to finish fifth in race two and then led race three in the closing stages, before slipping to fourth at the flag.

While frustrated to miss out on a podium, Verschoor openly admits to being surprised by how competitive he was on his debut, justifying his hard work behind the scenes.

“You always go there to win [but] also I’m always quite realistic,” he says. “To be fair, I didn’t expect to be fighting for the top positions and a top three in the first weekend.

“In general it was OK. I need to be hard on myself and, if I’m in the same position again, that I take the opportunity. I don’t want to be too happy for myself but, of course, if I look at it realistically I showed that I am as good as the top guys there.

“Of course it is easier to talk [to sponsors] than if I had been at the back all the time. I really hope it helps because I do need it. For [MP Motorsport] to have so much faith in me to continue is something special. I will never forget what they have done for me in the past and I hope to continue a nice story together.”

Next up for Verschoor, all being well away from the track on the business front, is a chance to showcase his talent on arguably the biggest stage of all - Monaco. A strong display on those iconic streets could be just the tonic to attract more backers so he can focus on living the one life. As a racing driver.

Richard Verschoor, MP Motorsport

Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images