Positive outcome for Trident Motorsport's rookies in the Qatar desert

The Feature Race that concluded the thirteenth round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship season, held at the Lusail circuit, saw the Trident Motorsport drivers finish outside the points zone. Nonetheless, the performances from both Laurens Van Hoepen and James Wharton in this season finale are decidedly encouraging.

The two drivers ran different strategies: the Australian started on the softest Option tyres, while Dutchman Van Hoepen used the hardest Prime tyres. Starting from nineteenth place, Wharton immediately gained a position, displaying good race pace.

The Australian rookie pitted at the end of lap six to switch to Prime tyres. However, during the pit stop, Wharton made a mistake due to inexperience by going too fast down the pit lane. This incident was sanctioned with a five-second penalty, to which an additional ten seconds were added at the end of the race for taking advantage of a cut.

Seventeenth at the finish line, Wharton therefore slipped to nineteenth place overall. This does not detract from the positive performance of the nineteen-year-old Australian, making his debut in the FIA Formula 2 Championship on a technical and complex circuit like Lusail.

Starting twenty-second, Van Hoepen immediately made his way forward, gaining two positions. Despite using the harder-compound Prime tires, the Dutchman managed to maneuver well, keeping pace with the other drivers using the faster Option compounds.

Trident Motorsport's strategy was thwarted by a safety car deployed from laps fifteen to seventeen, which brought the field back together. Van Hoepen therefore delayed his pit stop until lap twenty-nine, but it was not enough. The 20-year-old Dutchman finished the Feature Race in eighteenth place.

With the Qatar weekend now over, the FIA Formula 2 Championship returns next weekend. The fourteenth and final round of the season takes place at the Yas Marina circuit in the Emirates.

Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager: “Considering our starting positions, we weren't expecting miracles from this Feature Race. We varied our drivers' strategies, and they gained experience and at times performed at a competitive pace. We weren't able to finish in the points, but I'm pleased with the potential seen in the performances of Laurens Van Hoepen and James Wharton.”