Round 12 Post Qualifying Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the top three qualifiers for FIA Formula 2 in Baku. In third place we have Victor Martins from ART Grand Prix, in second is Andrea Kimi Antonelli from PREMA Racing and taking Pole Position today is Richard Verschoor from Trident. Richard, your second pole of the season and by such a small margin in a thrilling end to the session, how was it for you out there?
Richard Verschoor: I’m glad it was a big enough gap. It was a very good session in general. We were struggling in FP to get the car going, I had no grip at all. I am very happy that we managed to have a good session right now. I think we were P1 on all the push laps I did. That was quite promising. I am feeling good on this track. I hope we have a good race car as well.
FIA Formula 2: You’re right, you were on provisional pole before the final runs and then managed to make sure you stayed there. Pole here and in Monaco, you really like your street circuits this year.
Verschoor: I do, I always love to be on the street tracks, and I am happy. Monaco was my first pole in F2 and this is my second, so I am happy to get that this year.
FIA Formula 2: What is it about street circuits that you feel particularly comfortable with?
Verschoor: I am not sure. In the Netherlands we say, I feel like a fish in the water. I just like to be on the street tracks, and I always like to push the boundaries. I am not afraid of crashing.
FIA Formula 2: It’s a double pole for the team with Mansell in P10 today, he is set for P1 in the Sprint Race. Is this a race where you can move forward tomorrow?
Verschoor: Definitely Baku is always a crazy race. You never know where you are going to end up. I think in 2022 I was last and then I was on the podium, then last again and then I finished P5. Anything can happen. That’s why P1 is nice but I still want to do well and make no mistakes. For Christian, I think he did a super good job. I am very happy for him. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow from Pole.
FIA Formula 2: Well done on the Pole. Kimi, P2 for you, just seventeen thousandths of a second off your first pole in Formula 2, how do you feel after that?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: A bit disappointed. The session was good but of course P2 with just a small gap is a bit frustrating. I think it was a good session, I managed to build up lap by lap, managed to secure a good lap on set two which wasn’t easy because the Red Flag came out pretty early on during the first push. It broke the rhythm. Being able to get back and deliver a good lap, I was happy with that.
FIA Formula 2: Your last front row start in a Feature Race was Melbourne, how better prepared do you feel now compared to Round three at the start of the year?
Antonelli: For sure, since Melbourne I have improved mainly in the race craft as well as the starts. Looking at the past races, Baku is always crazy so we will see what will happen. Starting on the front row will help.
FIA Formula 2: You were saying that you would have to rely on the sim to prep before coming here for your first visit. How have you found the changed of the Baku circuit, especially with the Red Flags in Free Practice.
Antonelli: It was my first time here. I have to say I felt pretty comfortable. I honestly really like street circuits. I think the work that I did on the sim really helped. Just to set good references and to be as ready as possible before driving here for the first time.
FIA Formula 2: Well done today. Victor your best Qualifying result since Silverstone. Where these top two just a little out of reach for you today?
Victor Martins: Not at all. I think the all the laps we did were really good. I was always P2 behind Richard, but I will say I am a bit frustrated with the second set. My first lap before the Red Flag was really good. I think a lot of drivers also had good laps, but you feel it, you know your moment. I was feeling really well with the car. I think I didn’t maximise everything for the last lap. Still happy to be there. We were struggling in FP a bit with a few things. I think now it’s a good starting point for the weekend.
FIA Formula 2: You’ve now had four of the last five Qualifying in the top five, have you and the team found something that’s helped with this consistency?
Martins: For sure, now I go into Qualifying, and I know I will have the package to fight for pole or at least be in the top five. Of course, not easily but if we do everything that we have in our hands then we are always there and that’s bringing confidence. I know for the last two Qualifyings I will have everything on the table to fight for Pole.
FIA Formula 2: We have seen some chaos at races here in Baku in the past, what are your expectations for tomorrow and Sunday?
Martins: I was in the chaos last year so I know how it goes, how it can go bad from good to bad quickly. I will say that I have no expectations, you just need to prepare yourself, be ready for everything, every condition. If there is a Safety Car, if there is no Safety Car, if there is a Red Flag. It’s just to be prepared for everything. It’s some analysis for tonight and then to do a good job for the race, bring data and go for it on Sunday.
FIA Formula 2: Thank you very much, well done today.