Round 14 Post-Feature Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Hello from Abu Dhabi, where we're joined by the top three finishers in today's FIA Formula 2 Feature Race. In third place, we have Richard Verschoor for MP Motorsport. Second is Gabriel Bortoleto for Invicta Racing, and your race winner is Joshua Duerksen for AIX Racing. Joshua, congratulations. It's your second win in F2 but your first Feature F2 win, how does that feel?

Joshua Duerksen: Yeah, I think it's the best feeling to finish the season with victory, especially if it's your first Feature Race victory. I was really desiring this win. But I’m just extremely happy. The team did a great job. I was feeling connected with the car. The pace was good. I think I did some good overtakes, some good defending. I didn't really know what position I was, so I didn't know until I saw the chequered flag, then my engineer told me I was P1 I just didn't believe it. So big emotions and just really happy to see the progress we did from the beginning of the season to now. The team from last year - having zero points to now finish with four podiums in total, including two wins. I think this is just a big improvement of the team and I think they deserve it even more than me this victory is because of all the hard work they did and by not giving up and always giving me a really good car, a really quick car and always improving and getting quicker and quicker and quicker. It’s just the best feeling I can have to finish the season, to be honest.

FIA Formula 2: Well, well done to you and the team. Congratulations on the victory. Gabriel, P2 for the third time this weekend, you're getting used to that seat there, but this will be the best one of the lot I'm sure. You fought right to the end for the best result today.

Gabriel Bortoleto: Yeah, it was an intense race today. Congratulations to Joshua for the win, his first Feature Race win, he deserves a lot. It wasn't easy today. After the pit stop, I had my rear brakes that didn't work, so they were switched off completely, so I had two or three lockups and that completely flatspotted my front tyres and it was very tough to deal with that. But, I managed to bring the rear brakes in again, we got back into a rhythm and I managed to overtake Victor and then get closer to Joshua, but he had a very good pace as well. He took care of his tyres very well and I was not able to overtake him in the laps we had, but super proud of the race I did and everything. This is the best second place, probably of my life. Actually, I think in F3, I finished second as well, but it feels very good. I'm super happy right now. I think I have a lot of adrenaline in this moment. I'm super tired mentally and I don't think my emotions are in place right now, but they're gonna be soon and I'm gonna celebrate a lot.

FIA Formula 2: Well, we're gonna have plenty more questions for you as well later on, but well done today. And Richard, just quickly coming on to you, from P12 to P3 and really making that alternative strategy work. Just how strong was your drive today?

Richard Verschoor: I think the pace of the car was good, very happy with that. Our main target for this weekend or today was to claim third in the Teams’ Championship, so very happy to help the team with that. I think for the whole team, it’s been nice to finish that off, and of course, for me as well to finish on the podium. in the last round it's always nice. I think the last two rounds for me were to get to know the team better, and we had some amazing results already, so really looking forward to working with them again in ‘25. But I had to make the tyres last which was not easy, especially in the beginning of the race, all the people around me were on Options. and I had to try to hang onto the Medium tyre, so I already destroyed them a bit in the beginning, but somehow we managed to keep them alive until the end. So yeah, happy with that.

FIA Formula 2: Well done today.