After scoring his first FIA Formula 2 pole position in Canada, Trident’s Laurens Van Hoepen says it’s further proof of the improvements the Italian team is making.
The team, which finished bottom of the table in 2025 having scored just two points, has scored podiums in both rounds with the Dutch driver in 2026.
Van Hoepen, 20, made the most of a slipstream from the Invicta of Joshua Dürksen in the closing moments of the session to pinch pole position from his rivals.
“It shows that we are there,” the Dutchman said. “We have been competitive every weekend, and we are just improving step by step, which is the target. So it’s good.”
Van Hoepen has finished third in Australia’s Feature Race and second in the Miami Sprint, with championship leader Nikola Tsolov winning on both occasions, and arrived in Montreal fourth and nine-points behind the Bulgarian in the Drivers’ Standings.
Canada, the @Formula2 poleman is here. ??? pic.twitter.com/gwA83q1SKT
— Trident Team (@trident_team) May 22, 2026
Van Hoepen had been close to the top of the times throughout the session, which was twice stopped after crashes for MP’s Oliver Goethe and ART’s Tasanpol Inthraphuvasak, which lead to a frantic climax.
After the session he said it was an exciting and challenging afternoon behind the wheel, with “a lot of things happening”.
But he believed the speed was there for a strong grid position, if he could deliver the lap before another stoppage.
“We got the lap in the end, which was quite tight on timing, so I’m very happy,” he said. “It was difficult because I thought it was done after the second Red Flag. Then I had to refocus to make sure I was still in it for the last two laps. So that made it a bit more difficult.
“I felt strong the whole session and also on the last Red Flag I was already on a good lap, so I know the pace was there. It was just about having a lap where I could put it all together, which we did in the end. So that was good.”
He added he wants to make the most of starting at the front and score a lot of points this weekend.
The last time Van Hoepen won a single-seater race was back in 2023 when competing at the Formula Regional level.
Bennett marks best F2 Qualifying
It was double delight for Trident, as they had both cars in the top 10, as British driver John Bennett qualified seventh fastest – a personal best for the 22-year-old.
The Salisbury-born driver said the session built on a positive practice earlier in the day, saying he’d felt good from the beginning.
Bennett said there was still some time on the table, but felt the lap was “hooked up” and was pleased with it.
He’ll start fourth on Saturday for the Sprint Race, which will see Miami Feature Race winner Gabrielle Mini start from reverse-grid pole, after the Italian qualified 10th on Friday.
Good day at the office ??
A Trident pole and both of us in the top seven in Quali. Lots to play for now!
Let's go and get the results ? #JB27 I @Formula2 I @trident_team pic.twitter.com/nyXmtbYk6B
— John Bennett (@john27bennett) May 22, 2026
Bennett believes the racing at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which has several long straights and four DRS (drag reduction system) zones, will be exciting.
He said the performance of the teams and drivers is very close and that “anything can happen”.
Bennett praised the Trident team for their efforts in turning around the results from 2025, while revealing that he’s made personal improvements.
He said that the interruptions to the session would previously have unsettled him and derailed a positive session, but he said he’s using his full year of experience to make the most of every lap and ensuring he’s driving at his best as often as possible.
He’s optimistic for the weekends races, saying he wants to bank as many points as possible, adding that a podium finish would be a “cool bonus”.
Image Credit – Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty
