‘The aim is very clear’ - Josep María Martí looking to fight at the front with Campos Racing in 2025

19 February 2025

Josep María Martí’s confidence is at an “all-time high” heading into the 2025 Formula 2 season, with the Campos Racing driver keen to fight at the front this year.

The Spaniard showed plenty of promise in his rookie season, winning the final Sprint Race of the year in Yas Marina having previously achieved three podium results – two of those coming in the opening round in Sakhir.

However, he also endured some difficult moments, ending the year with nine DNFs, but speaking ahead next week’s pre-season test, Martí is feeling positive.

“It's going to be a very competitive season, as well as it was last year,” he started. “Obviously, there are a lot of very good rookies stepping up to F3, and this year I am wearing the number three on my car, as we had a very competitive season last year as a team.

“So, I am super excited to get back in the car. I feel like I've done a major step forward and I am carrying that mentality I had in Abu Dhabi. I'm hoping for a good season, obviously the aim is very clear, and I am just excited to get back to driving.”

The 19-year-old’s difficulties came in the middle part of the year. A double DNF in Spa capped off a run of just four points scoring results – including a P2 in the Spielberg Sprint – in 18 races.

Martí achieved his first Formula 2 victory at the Yas Marina Sprint Race at the end of the season

However, Martí used the summer break as a way to reset and he returned to form at Monza. The results did not always show themselves in the final four rounds, but a win in Abu Dhabi was exactly what he needed heading into the winter.

“After the summer break I kind of reset,” he revealed. “We had a couple of bad races before the break, so the break was really good to get away from that. Monza, we made a step forward and obviously Baku we had a very unfortunate weekend with lots of issues.”

“I felt much more confident compared to the first part of the season and it was just a matter of building, building, building and then in Abu Dhabi I was a very competitive driver.

“Then I got a win in the Sprint Race, and that was very good. It was very good especially to take a weight of my shoulders, to say look I knew I was competitive but I've got the actual confirmation, so that was really nice.

“I think ending in a good way is good and I am motivated to get back to driving, and my confidence is at an all-time high. I'm hoping for a good start to the season, good pre-season testing and then to start off on the right foot.”

So, what was part of the reset? Well, for the Spaniard it was a matter of not focusing too much on his teammate Isack Hadjar – who wound up second in the Championship – and simply going back to basics.

Martí is excited to jump back into the car at pre-season testing in Barcelona

“For sure believing in myself one hundred percent,” said Martí on the keys to his improved form. “At the start of the season I was competitive but then Isack demonstrated really good pace.

“I then felt like I was getting caught up in trying to do what Isack was doing, rather than following my own sense of work, which had worked in F3, worked in F4, worked in karts, worked my whole life and I think by the end of the season I had recovered my own way of doing things.

“I was following my own thoughts and my own feelings, and I think that's pretty much the biggest thing, and I am very confident in how I am preparing stuff for this year.

“I know that I am putting in all the work that is needed to fight for the very top. It's just a matter of going out there and doing what I know what I can do and doing a good job.”

The attention now though is on next week’s Barcelona pre-season test which Martí hopes will be the start of a great season that will put him in the frame for a move up to Formula 1.

“The target is Formula 1 in 2026, it's obvious,” said Martí. “But to be in Formula 1 in 2026 you have to be the guy to beat in Formula 2, so I am aware of that.

Martí is feeling confident ahead of the 2025 F2 season

“I am a part of the Red Bull Junior Team, and they have demonstrated to have a ladder that you can climb with Isack and with 2026 coming, new regulations, if I do a good job I have a good shot at a seat.

“It all comes down to how well I perform and obviously now it's all down to me. Red Bull support me and they have tried to help me become a better driver and I feel like I am a driver that can perform well in 2025.

“I hope that it can lead to good results, hopefully less crashes than last year, because we were very unfortunate many times. We just have to be consistent, have a good start to the season, and then focus on getting results the rest of the year.”