As a French driver, representing a French Formula 1 team’s academy, Victor Martins is unsurprisingly excited about racing at Paul Ricard this weekend. Add in the fact it’s the MP Motorsport driver’s birthday on Wednesday, and you imagine it will be difficult for him to be “calmer,” and yet that’s exactly what Martins is aiming for.

Impressively qualifying third in the opening round of the season, Martins’ best result in Barcelona was P2 in the second Race. The position was sandwiched between P9 and P5 finishes, and the MP Motorsport driver admitted that he struggled with DRS at times, a feature he’d never experienced before.

“In terms of the pace and rhythm, I don't think we need to worry,” said Martins. “When you’re a rookie, you discover a lot of things, fighting in the races with DRS for example, that was new for me. In Formula Renault, it was easier to race and there was not much overtaking. Now there are a lot of overtakes. You need to manage the gap behind and in front of you.

“In Quali, I need to stay a bit calmer. I did the job in Barcelona, but before the last set (of tyres) I was P23, so if something had gone wrong in the third set, then the weekend would have been a disaster for me.

“In general, being more consistent and calmer will be key, but I think this will come. We need to manage the format a bit better as well. Free practice will be important - even if the pace isn't representative - to show myself and to show the team that I have the pace and that the car is working. That brings confidence.”

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Martins has plenty of prior experience at his home circuit in Le Castellet, taking the Formula Renault Eurocup title at the French track last season, with fourth and second-place finishes.

And the Frenchman says a podium or two would make for a great birthday present on his return, although the 19-year-old insists he isn’t getting carried away despite a positive start to life in F3.

“It is my home race and I think it will be nice,” continued Martins. “I have seen that there should be a few fans and I have already received some messages, people telling me that they will be there with the French flag and that is good. I want to use their support positively. It is also a home race for Alpine, so I think it will be a great weekend.

“I think a podium or two would be great. If we can get a win, it will be even better, but I will be taking it step by step. If we arrive in Free Practice and we struggle, then we probably won’t get a podium, so we will need to analyse what we are doing and work out where we are and what we can do. I am quite confident at the moment.”

The third tier will be returning to Le Castellet for the first time in two years and Martins believes the rookies will benefit from the track not featuring on the calendar in 2020, eliminating some of the advantages of being a more experienced driver.

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“I haven’t driven there with F3 before, but it will be important to be right on the pace,” he continued. “F3 didn’t go there last year, so some of the more experienced drivers won’t have that as an advantage over the rookies.

“It is not an easy track. It’s quite tricky. There will be some overtaking with DRS and the long straight - it might be even better for battles than Barcelona. If you start further back, then you can maybe come back easier than in Barcelona.

“I just want to enjoy the week. Wednesday is my birthday, and I am racing at home at the weekend. The weather is great, and my confidence and my mindset are good to go, so it is all awesome.”