2021 Round 7 post-Feature Race press conference

Thoughts from Piastri, Shwartzman and Boschung

FIA Formula 2: Many congratulations to the top three finishers of the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, in third place Ralph Boschung for Campos, in second place Robert Shwartzman for PREMA and taking his fifth win of the season, our winner Oscar Piastri, also for PREMA. Well done Oscar, a great job not only today but all weekend. Although with regards to the Feature Race we didn't get many laps, can you sum it all up for us?

Oscar Piastri: It wasn't much of a race, I got a good start initially and held the lead and then obviously there was the crash behind, so yeah. That's about it really for the race. Then we got back underway for a few laps and there was a bit of confusion with people doing pit stops and stuff and who actually won, so I didn't know until about ten minutes after. But I think the most important thing from this one is that everyone is conscious.

FIA Formula 2: Oscar, the drivers' Championship is going to have to wait until Abu Dhabi, but your team PREMA are the team Champion of 2021. Can we get your reaction and your thoughts on that?

Piastri: It's 100% what the team deserve, they've done an awesome job all season, and you know not just this season, but both of the seasons I've been with them. It's a great achievement for the team. It's not the most exciting way to have won the teams' Championship, but nonetheless, it's a massive achievement for the team and I'm really happy for them.

FIA Formula 2: Well done Oscar, not only for today but all weekend. Robert coming to you now. Started P2, finished P2 but what's your take on things?

Robert Shwartzman: Well, first of all, it's unfortunate that we didn't really have a proper race to fight. I wanted to fight for the win. Obviously, what happened at the beginning of the race was crazy and I'm very happy that both drivers are conscious. Probably they are injured, but the most important thing is that they are both alive because it's really dangerous when you stall on the grid. On the start, I made a good start and then I made a slight mistake which made my car bog down a bit, so probably if I didn't make that mistake, I could have challenged Oscar in Turn 1. At that time, I thought I'll stay in P2 and try and get through on the track but obviously, there was straight away a red flag. On the restart our tyres were really cold, like really cold and we didn't really have time to warm them. It was challenging to get out of the last corner and there was some gap in front but I didn't want to do any stupid things, so I just stayed behind. From the beginning of the race, I was around one second behind Oscar, but my main goal was to push on the strategy. To pit before him and try and gain some time but at some point, it was a bit crazy because I was on the radio on the main straight and the Safety Car came out. I wasn't entirely sure if it was good for me or bad, but anyway, then it was red flagged. At that time, I was P1, but then with the red flag, we got back some positions so, in the end, we finished P2. Some solid points, which is also very positive so now I am looking forward to Abu Dhabi and to continue doing good results as we did this weekend. Obviously, congratulations to PREMA for the teams' Championship.

FIA Formula 2: Can we get a few more words from you on the job PREMA has done this year?

Shwartzman: Well it's awesome, every year I've worked with PREMA was an awesome year. Starting from 2018, I'm pretty sure all the years I've been in PREMA we always took the teams' Championship! It was 18, 19, 20 and 21, so it's a good streak, four in a row! So I'm really happy for the team they really deserve it and they are just awesome.

FIA Formula 2: Well done Robert, and Ralph coming to you, fantastic to see you up on the podium. Slightly bizarre circumstances that got you there, but just give us your thoughts? What was the view like from the Formula 2 podium?

Ralph Boschung: Yeah, thank you. Well, I don't really know what to say, to be honest. First of all, I'm happy to hear that the drivers are conscious. I mean I had an amazing start from seventh and immediately up to third, and obviously, then we had the red flag it was a little bit of a mess. We didn't understand how the race will go, I'm just so happy to have my podium, even though it's not the best way to have it, but I'm super glad for the team.

FIA Formula 2: And Ralph, give us your thoughts on the start, you made a lightning getaway. Théo Pourchaire in front of you stalled, how difficult was it to get past him?

Boschung: Well yeah I mean I had to avoid him obviously because he stalled. I think the reaction time was quite good there, and then I managed to outbreak Zhou around the outside in Turn 1 and then I was basically third. I couldn't really believe it. The team did a really good job because we struggled a little bit with the starts at the beginning of the year and we improved race by race, and now I think we've found a really good trick.

FIA Formula 2: Well done Ralph.