2020 Round 2 post-Qualifying press conference

Thoughts from Vesti, Beckmann and Sargeant

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to the press conference with the top three qualifiers for Race 1 of this weekend's FIA Formula 3 Championship round in Austria. We are joined by pole-sitter Frederik Vesti for PREMA Racing, in second place is David Beckmann for Trident, and third is Logan Sargeant, also for PREMA Racing. Frederik, an interrupted session for everyone there, but you got it done in the end. Just what were those final five minutes like in that qualifying session?

Frederik Vesti: The pressure was on. It was very difficult to put a lap together. There were cars everywhere and the red flags seemed to come every lap that we had a chance to do a good job. In the end I kept a cool head, and did a very good lap. In the end, we got pole position and I'm very proud of the team, and myself too, to achieve this in the second round. I'm very happy.

FIA Formula 3: It was a great lap at the end there, and a pole position in just your second race weekend in FIA Formula 3. Are there things you were able to learn from last weekend that helped you today?

Frederik: Yes, for sure. Last weekend in Quali we had the opportunity to go for pole. I missed out on a few opportunities and today I just managed to put it together and learn from last weekend. That's why we're here and I'm very proud of that.

FIA Formula 3: Well done today. David, moving on to you. Second place after another strong practice session earlier today, are you happy with that result?

David Beckmann: Yeah, but first of all congrats to Fred. I think he did a really good job. I think we made a good step from the Free Practice. We showed already that we have good pace. Qualifying was quite tricky, many spins and red flags, and I also had a period where my engine didn't start. It meant that I went a bit out of sequence, but then I got it back and delivered a good lap time. I'm really happy and looking forward to tomorrow.

FIA Formula 3: It was a similar situation for you last weekend, where you were quick in practice but you didn't quite manage to convert that into a top three start in the race. What was different this time around?

David: I think it was because I did not really expect to race in F3 this year. Everything developed really quickly. It was something like 10 months where I was not in the car, although I did some other bits here and there. I needed at least one Free Practice and Quali to get back in it, to really push. The race pace was not bad last weekend, but in the Quali you always need this confidence. I think that's now back and I can repeat it over the next weekends if we still have good luck.

FIA Formula 3: Well done today. Logan, moving on to you. That must have been so difficult sitting in the pit lane watching those final five minutes. Just tell us what happened there which meant you couldn't get back out after the red flag.

Logan Sargeant: Obviously it was not ideal. The engine just wouldn't start for whatever reason. I think a lot of people had that problem, but there others ended up being able to start the engine eventually. Mine just didn't want to cooperate today. But a big thank you to PREMA. The car was really mega. I think we had really good pace through the whole day, on any compound or on any run, so going into tomorrow I'm still really confident. I'm taking the positives. I'm still P3. That's a great place to start for tomorrow. It just wasn't our day.

FIA Formula 3: You mentioned starting P3, you were starting from P4 last weekend and converted that into second place. What experience do you take from last weekend's race to hopefully take the fight to these two tomorrow?

Logan: Race 1 sort of unfolded a bit for me, in the first corner. From there it was just really about attacking and trying to catch the leader. In Race 2 unfortunately I had a puncture. I still learned a lot, especially with managing the tyres here. As I said, we have really good pace so I'm really confident. I have no worries and I think we have a good chance to win.

FIA Formula 3: Good luck tomorrow. Frederik, just returning to you. The weather is looking a bit iffy for tomorrow. It could be very wet. I'm guessing you're hoping it will be nice and dry in the morning starting from pole position?

Frederik: Yeah, obviously we've just grabbed pole position in the dry, so I wouldn't mind it being dry! But, on the other hand, I love the wet weather as well so for me it's not a big thing. I'm just happy for today and tomorrow is a new day. We'll take it as any other day. I'm looking forward to it.