2021 Round 2 post-Qualifying press conference

Thoughts from Vesti, Hauger and Martins

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations to the top three qualifiers for Race 3 of the FIA Formula 3 Championship here at Paul Ricard. Starting in third place, Victor Martins for MP Motorsport, in second Dennis Hauger for PREMA Racing, and taking his second pole in Formula 3, our pole sitter Frederik Vesti for ART Grand Prix. Fred, many congratulations, it looked like a great lap how did it feel from inside the cockpit?

Frederik Vesti: Well first of all, thank you. It was a great lap, good enough for pole position, Sectors 1 and 2 felt really strong. I came into the last sector quite close to the car ahead, which meant I lost a bit of time, but I did a good job in the first two sectors so in the end the lap time was really strong.

FIA Formula 3: Tell us about the session as a whole and the track conditions, how did the improve over the course of the session?

Vesti: The track improved quite a lot, also the car was getting a bit lighter and we had new tyres in the end which always helps. The start of the session was messy, I made a mistake in the first run and then straight after that there was a red flag so the session was stopped. Then we came back on track for the last run and after that it all went smoothly.

FIA Formula 3: Traffic looked like a real issue?

Vesti: Definitely, no one wants to be the guy towing everyone else so a lot of people in the front stopped, which made a mess. That also compromised me a lot on the first run.

FIA Formula 3: Dennis, coming on to you. Another great lap by you, but in the end not quite fast enough. Sum it all up for us?

Dennis Hauger: Obviously not too bad with P2, it's a good spot for to take some opportunities on Sunday. I think on my lap I was alone; I did a decent lap and did what I could at the time. Got to be happy with that. I think we've still got a few things to work on for the race. Overall, I think the team did a great job, but we have to keep working hard obviously.

FIA Formula 3: You're sitting in the top three now, but of course, you're going to be mid-grid for Race 1 tomorrow. What are the factors that are going to come into play do you think?

Hauger: I haven't raced at this track before, but I know before at least there's been degradation, so I think it going to be quite interesting to see who is falling out of the race tomorrow. I will be gaining experience tomorrow as well, but I've got to focus on the points basically and keep the nose clean.

FIA Formula 3: Victor coming to you, it was another good lap by you as well. It was so close at the top of the times, first of all, how was your car?

Victor Martins: I think it all went well, we made a good step forwards from Free Practice. As Frederik said, in the first part of the session it was quite messy on track. We managed to secure quite a good lap at the beginning, and afterwards we found the last details and fine-tuned the driving. It was a great lap, but we still need to improve some things. Now we need to focus on the races because we need to better than in Barcelona and I think we'll have the car to do that.

FIA Formula 3: And tell us a little bit about the Paul Ricard track, of the three Sectors which are the key corners here?

Martins: It's mainly the last sector which you need to still have some performance in the tyres. I think I did quite well because I took the purple sector in Sector 3. You just have to be consistent, to do a Sector 1 which is good, then have a good tow in Sector 2 and to be well placed and not to lose time with the tow in Sector 3. For my lap I was quite close to someone, but I think I gained a bit in Sector 1 and 2 with that. It's quite hard with 30 cars on track.

FIA Formula 3: Victor final thoughts, what is like to be racing at home? How excited are you to be racing in France this weekend?

Martins: It's an awesome feeling! I have support a French Formula 1 team, I'm at Paul Ricard at home, I had my birthday on Wednesday so I can only enjoy it to the maximum. I need to stay calm and take this weekend like any other one because the points are still the same.

FIA Formula 3: Thank you very much!