FIA Formula 2: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the top three for the FIA Formula 2 Championship Feature Race in Budapest. In third place we have Richard Verschoor from Trident, in second is Victor Martins from ART Grand Prix and taking his first Feature Race victory is Andrea Kimi Antonelli from PREMA Racing. Kimi congratulations, two wins in the last two race weekends, and your first Feature Race win, this one must feel very special?

Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Yeah of course it is really special. Today our main goal was to try and have the best race possible and it turned out we came away with the win. We were on a different strategy, we tried to hope for that and luckily it paid off with the second safety car. I knew it was the moment because I had the fresher tyre, but I think overall the pace was really strong during the whole race. I think we were really deserving of this win because the pace was really strong. Of course we were a bit lucky with the second safety car. But in the end, we took every opportunity and made it work.

FIA Formula 2: Yesterday in the Sprint Race we saw you leading on the Softs but not being able to make them last and you couldn’t hold on to the win. Today you were leading on the Prime tyre for a while. What did you learn yesterday that you put into action today?

Antonelli: Yeah definitely yesterday I made a mistake into Turn 1, I had a big lock up and flat spotted the tyre. Then despite knowing that I kept really pushing on the tyre, it degraded a lot eventually, I even had to pit. Definitely it was a good learning experience for today. There is still some work to do, but we are moving in the right direction.

FIA Formula 2: It’s maximum points for you today with the Fastest Lap and well, the other top three in the Championship didn’t score at all, do you think you are an outside chance of getting into that title fight with the form you’ve shown?

Antonelli: There are still some races to go. Of course, the Championship can be open until the last race, it was the same last year. Obviously, we will see, we will try to do the best weekends from now and try to score as many points as possible each weekend. We will see where we end up at the end of the Championship.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations, Victor back-to-back P2’s for you this weekend, can you look at the way the race swung away from you and then back towards you, how do you sum it up from the cockpit, how do you feel with P2?

Victor Martins: Everything was feeling great. Everything was in control from mine and teams’ side on the strategy we were on the right one. I think we did the job on the Softs to make an incredible start. I have never done from P5 to P1 into Turn 1. From there I felt that I had the race in my hands. I controlled the pace, we did a pitstop, then we had great pace again on the Hards. I was pulling away from Bortoleto and Fittipaldi who were my main opponents at the time. I felt it was ours if I was able to keep it cool and calm. Then it was not in my control when there was a Safety Car. I knew that after the Safety Car it would be tough because the Softs were holding their grip well. For sure P2 is not a win but we are going in the right direction, in Qualifying, in the race, the pace is good now.

FIA Formula 2: I wanted to talk about the start and how close it was with Paul Aron, did you see him locking up behind you? To go into the lead by Turn 1, how special did that feel?

Martins: I saw smoke but I did not see the car so I do not know what happened. I will need to see the replay. Of course, the start was mega. I am working a lot on this because last year it was a weakness. This year we had a few issues but from the point where we understood where it was coming from, I feel it is in my hands and when I do the right things it is always working. Yesterday I did a good one and today again. It’s much better when you go forward into Turn 1 and win places, it’s a better feeling.

FIA Formula 2: The teams helped you put together individually good results this season but it has not really come together over the whole weekend so far, how much of a confidence boost is the pair of podiums this weekend?

Martins: I think it is a big confidence boost. We definitely have the pace now in Qualifying. I think I start to look at a few hundredths here and there where I can improve. On the balance side, warm up, you need to put everything together and I think it is now down to small details which are making the difference. I think it is really showing that we have the performance. Every time I get out of the car I have a small frustration, which is good, I’m like ”Ah, I could have made some time here and there” and win a few places so definitely we are there. I am so happy. The team works really hard and they deserve it a lot, the engineers, mechanics and team managers.

FIA Formula 2: Thank you, Richard I’ve got a feeling you might be waiting until the car has passed scrutineering before you celebrate this result. Was that a redemption drive for you today?

Richard Verschoor: It doesn’t feel like it to be honest. I am just waiting because you never know with me.

FIA Formula 2: Kimi pulled away quickly after that first Safety Car, were you thinking the race might come back to you a little bit, were you learning from yesterday as well at that stage of the race?

Verschoor: Kimi was flying on the prime tyre, he was super-fast. I could also feel that I had less pace than yesterday, probably because we were so light yesterday, it gave me so much of an advantage… I’m just joking. I saw behind me that the cars couldn’t really keep up. I thought okay maybe it is just him or a few cars that are really flying. In the beginning the other strategy was better with the Safety Car at the start giving a free stop. But then we had a free stop in the end too. Of course I am happy to be on the podium but let’s wait.

FIA Formula 2: Regardless of the final points your performances have been really strong in both races. How well do you feel that you have driven this weekend?

Verschoor: Of course yesterday I won but it was a Sprint Race, so we have to improve our Qualifying. We have been improving this round compared to the last three rounds, so at least we are in the mix. Now it is up to me to be on top of my driving in Spa and try to improve Qualifying.

FIA Formula 2: Well done to all today.