FIA Formula 2: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the Top 3 Qualifiers in FIA Formula 2 here in Abu Dhabi, in third place we have Paul Aron from Hitech Pulse-Eight, in second is Gabirel Bortoleto from Invicta Racing and taking pole is Victor Martins from ART Grand Prix, Victor Pole for the final race weekend of the season, just how good was that session feel?

Victor Martins: Let’s say consistent from start to finish. I had a really good car from Free Practice we definitely had the pace. I felt super good since the first lap in FP. That brings confidence into the weekend. It’s how you need to start. I am also a bit frustrated because the lap was far from being perfect but when you are in Pole Position with that kind of lap it means that the overall package was there. We come back from far so it was good.

FIA Formula 2: You first Pole of season, how satisfying is it to round off the year in that way and go for victory on Sunday?

Martins: I am so proud of the work we have put in. We were already counting down, we can only have two opportunities, now one pole position left and we finally got it. It’s good, it’s showing that we are back in form now fighting with the title contenders. It’s nice to be there, for sure there is still a long weekend to go, but starting on pole is always nice.

FIA Formula 2: You say fighting with the title contenders, but no title picture for you to worry about, will that give you an advantage?

Martins: I am just focused on the job that I need to do. Having a good debrief with the team, good analysis, preparing the weekend and the races as best as possible. Focusing on myself, what we can control with the team. Getting a good start will be the key for both races, just going for it. If there is a gap I will go, for sure always in control because you need to finishes races and show your potential. But I don’t have the pressure of the Championship or the pressure they might have.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations, Gabriel P2 ahead of both your title rivals are you happy with that outcome?

Gabriel Bortoleto: Yeah I think it’s quite a good position to start. Since FP I think we have been on pace. Happy to be honest. I think Victor did a good job probably a very good lap to be in the position he is in. I am quite happy with my lap, there is always a little bit you can find here and there but this is the same for everyone. Shame I couldn’t get the pole because it’s two points if you start from Pole on Sunday. Just happy, see how things go tomorrow and Sunday but it’s going to be exciting and a lot of fun.

FIA Formula 2: Just 35 thousandth of a second between you and Victor, you mentioned on the radio that the timing of the second run was risky in your eyes, and then you were first out after the Red Flag, just how tense was that run for you?

Bortoleto: It was risky because I got the red flag like three seconds after I crossed the line from the first push. That was actually my best push. We got a bit stuck to go out of the Pit Lane in the first push lap we had in the second set of tyres. It was a bit too risky but obviously nothing the team could do. I was just saying that it was risky because we almost lost the lap. My teammate that was just behind me lost his, nothing to say, I think after the Red Flag we had another lap and I didn’t improve. Good that I managed to put that lap together and be P2.

FIA Formula 2: Now you’ve had today do you feel the intensity of the title situation or are you trying to keep the approach as normal as possible? Bortoleto: I’m not going to lie when you have a Championship that you are fighting for, you need to choose every step you take in the right way. Honestly it doesn’t change much for me right now, whatever happens, happens, we have done a good Quali and now we go for the Sprint and Feature to see what happens. If we have the pace, I think we can deliver a good job. If not, it will be a shame but we have been quite decent in the races this year so I expect us to be good here as well. Whatever is the outcome out of this weekend I am going to be proud of everything we achieved this season.

FIA Formula 2: Paul P3 for you today, you’re right there in the mix just sixty-eight thousands of second off pole, did you think you’d done enough during that final lap?

Paul Aron: Yes and no. First of all congratulations to Victor for the pole and Gabriel for being P2. These guys did a good job and good laps so that’s why they are ahead of me. It was a bit of a messy session for me. The car was deserving of a pole, for example I hit the limiter between Turn 2 and Turn 3 and that cost me exactly eight hundreds, which was the time for pole. It doesn’t take it away from any of these guys here but those types of mistakes are always annoying because there’s nothing down to over pushing or anything like that. It’s just an upshift too late. Bit annoying but I’m happy to be in the top 3. Theres always a chance that to win the race from here. Massive thankyou to Hitech again because they delivered another good car, second weekend in a row. In the end, we will see how the weekend unfolds. Sarting on pole is always nice, getting the pole is always nice. But with the Sprint Races, in my position I need to gain as many points as possible and starting a few positions ahead in the Sprint will help that. In the Feature, I have two more cars ahead that I would have if I would be on pole but, if you have the pace you can always move forward in the races. Let’s see. It was definitely fun. I did the race here last year and the test. Last year I didn’t like this track at all but this year the car was underneath me and I really enjoyed the sessions. I am just happy. It’s another track checked out, it’s not a weak track of mine. It was just that I didn’t find what I wanted from the car last year. This year the car was there and I did the job. I am happy with that.

FIA Formula 2: Speaking of doing the job how tough was that last run after the Red Flag on used tyres, trying to get back into the rhythm? You were the only driver in the top five to improve. Aron: I knew it was going to be difficult. Warm up was not easy. It never is with these softer compounds. When we saw everyone improve on the second lap in the first run, I knew that if we had only one outlap after the wait it was going to be difficult to have the tyres in the right temperature. We did well as a team, we took a big gap out of the pits which meant I could do my own warm up. There was still queuing at the end of the lap, which is also the reason why my Sector 1 was worse on that last lap. Once the tyres were in, I improved in Sector 2 and Sector 3 which was enough to improve the lap time. Definitely not an ideal qualifying lap. I think the fact that I improved on the last run and the others didn’t meant that there was more in my lap, before the Red Flag. At the same time, even that last lap I didn’t take the maximum.

FIA Formula 2: What’s the gameplan for tomorrow, is it just to still be in with a mathematical shot going into Sunday or is all out attack?

Aron: No, I think it’s just to enjoy the race and try to do the best I can. In the end I am quite far behind these two guys. Now I am the sandwich between Gabirel and Isack Hadjar. I think I am going to have a lot of fun. You should put both onboard cameras on me, normally you only have a front or a rear, but tomorrow I should have both. I think it will be interesting. But it will be mainly down to the race pace that you have, that will be the key. The teams have a lot of experience on this track but at the same time, it’s a new car this year. We will see how the race pace is. Whoever has good pace will move forward. In the Sprint there will be guys up front that may not have the pace that we have. I think all of us will be quick tomorrow. Points, points, points, in the end I also have a team to take care off. Hitech is in a close battle with MP so I want to give them as many points as I can.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations, well done everyone