2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship – Event 2 Recap

Building on momentum from Event 1, Joris Croezen and Tamás Gál once again represented TGR Haas F1 Sim Racing Team, with the event getting underway under the lights of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Both drivers progressed from a tightly contested Q1, with Croezen advancing to Q3 and securing P7 on the grid, while Gál narrowly missed out on the top 10 shootout in P13.

Croezen held position early on the medium compound, closely shadowing Red Bull’s Jarno Opmeer, but was unable to find a way past. Gál, meanwhile, started on the hard tire and slipped to P14 after losing a position early to Williams driver István Puki. As the pit stop window opened, both Haas drivers moved forward, with Croezen climbing as high as P2 before stopping on lap 11.

Gál inherited P2 as other hard-tire runners pitted before making his own stop on lap 16 for medium tires. Croezen continued to make progress into the points places but came under pressure from drivers who had opted for later stops. A wheel-to-wheel battle with Red Bull’s Frederik Rasmussen unfolded on lap 18, during which Croezen brushed the wall but managed to maintain position.

On fresher tires, Gál used this to his advantage to make places through the field in the closing stages, eventually passing Croezen on lap 21 to move into P8. The pair ran nose-to-tail to the checkered flag, securing a valuable double points finish for the team.

The second day opened at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for Round 5, where qualifying presented a fresh challenge. The TGR Haas F1 Sim Racing Team drivers both struggled to unlock lap time and were eliminated in Q1, with Gál P17 and Croezen P18.

Despite the setback, Gál and Croezen made a strong getaway, gaining two positions apiece through the opening corners to run P15 and P16 respectively. Starting on the hard compound, progress proved difficult in the early stages as overtaking proved difficult around the Spanish circuit.

Gál stopped on lap 21 and rejoined in P17, losing ground to Mercedes’ Tycho Hardy on fresher tires. Croezen pitted two laps later, emerging back on track behind his team mate. With overtaking at a premium, both eventually cleared Hardy, and capitalized on an off-track moment ahead to gain further positions, with Croezen leading the pair.

Late‑race drama followed, as Croezen climbed to P10 by the final lap, but contact in the closing corners dropped him down the order. Post‑race penalties ultimately elevated him to a P15 finish. Gál, having fallen to the rear of the pack, avoided the chaos ahead to cross the line in P12.

Looking to bounce back in Round 6 at Silverstone, Croezen produced a standout lap to top Q1 before advancing to Q3 and securing P8 on the grid. Gál narrowly missed progression, exiting Q1 in P16 amid extremely tight margins.

The British Grand Prix unfolded in wet conditions. Gál made a strong start to climb to P13, while Croezen held firm, immediately finding himself defending from Red Bull’s Jarno Opmeer in the early laps. As the race settled, Croezen remained in the top ten, keeping within striking distance of Ferrari’s Ismael Fahssi.  

Gál opted to stop on lap 14 for a fresh set of intermediates, however, after rejoining in traffic, he was drawn into a battle with Aston Martin’s Rubén Pedreño and McLaren’s Jake Benham, losing out to the latter and having to settle for P18. Up front, Croezen kept the pressure on Fahssi while fending off Opmeer’s latest challenge, the Red Bull driver probing around the outside on lap 22 only to be met with a firm defense.

With the top ten – including Croezen – committed to staying out and nursing their intermediates to the finish, the Dutchman’s controlled drive delivered him a well-earned P8. Gál capitalized on battles ahead, moving into P15, before a post-race penalty for a driver ahead promoted him to P14.  

Joris Croezen, TGR Haas F1 Sim Racing Team driver, said: “There are lots of positives, but also some mixed feelings. Points again in Jeddah – making it four consecutive races in the points this season – and also in Silverstone, but I should have scored in Spain as well before being taken out in the final corner of the last lap. The pace was there, which is the key positive heading into the next two events. I’m pleased with my performance, but we’re always pushing for more.”

Tamás Gál, TGR Haas F1 Sim Racing Team driver, said: “It was encouraging to get my first points in Jeddah. Securing P8 – with Joris in P9 – after starting from P13 showed we’ve got strong race pace. In Spain, despite a tough qualifying session, I fought back to finish just outside the top 10. The priority now is to improve qualifying and put ourselves in a better position on the grid.”

Joris Croezen sits ninth in the drivers’ standings after two events, while TGR Haas F1 Sim Racing Team occupies eighth in the teams’ standings. The season resumes with Event 3 on May 13-14 for Round 7 - Belgium, Round 8 - Netherlands and Round 9 - USA.