Interview
Heading into his second season of Formula 3, László Tóth says he feels less pressure than in his rookie year. And the Hungarian highlighted the work that Logan Sargeant and Charouz Racing System did together last season as a reason why he believes they can achieve success.
The 21-year-old endured a tough first season of F3 after making the jump from Formula Renault Eurocup, missing a key second round at Le Castellet due to COVID-19, which set him back in terms of experience and physical fitness.
Although he didn’t finish in the points during his rookie year, Tóth feels that he made consistent progress upon his return from illness and is entering his second year more relaxed and confident.
“The pressure is still there, but it isn't as pressuring, if you will,” said Tóth. “I still feel it, but it isn’t as great, and I can manage it better. I feel more relaxed. This helps me to stay calm and to focus better. There was progress every single race, I learned and gained experience every time.
“The difference between previous categories and F3 is quite big. There was a lot to learn with tyre management and DRS that I hadn't experienced before. My main goal this year will stay the same, to keep progressing and to keep getting better and better.
“I can’t set any goals yet, but I feel confident. We will see where we’re at when it comes to testing.”
Charouz enjoyed their strongest season of F3 to date in 2021, finishing fifth with 127 points, as Logan Sargeant and Enzo Fittipaldi tallied up five podiums and one win between them.
After spending post-season testing with the Czech outfit in Valencia, Tóth experienced their improvements first-hand.
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“They seem more confident,” he said. “They've got a good base to start weekends off with, thanks to the hard work of Logan (Sargeant) and the team last year. We can only improve from here, and I can only say positive things about them.
“We started talking after Sochi. They contacted me and said they would like to run me for 2022. We spoke to a few teams but going to Charouz felt like the best choice for me. They have created a really nice environment.
“Everyone is really friendly. It’s a really nice team to work with and I think they're all really hard working. They try to get the best out of you.”