Round 7 Post Qualifying Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Welcome everyone to today's FIA Formula 2 press conference following qualifying here at Silverstone. Joining us P3 from ART Grand Prix, it's Kush Maini and in second place from Rodin Mototsport, it's Alex Dunne and capturing his third career F2 pole position for Invicta Racing, it's Rafael Câmara. Rafa, congratulations, you've been extremely consistent this year with qualifying top six every single quali session so where does this consistency come from? 

Rafael Câmara: Yeah, I think I've been always good in a few laps. I think learning what you need to do and doing it and I think especially F2, F3 free practice you don't have a lot of time and going into quali also another compound especially F2 is a bit different than F3. I think that for sure it helps a lot and obviously being also in a good team so always having a good car and a competitive car to be able to be fighting for poles and always be consistently up there at the front and I think this year it's been very good. We’ve always been there at the front and hopefully we can continue with the work and keep the same pace.  

FIA Formula 2: It was a blistering lap that you set there. After you set it did you did you think anyone could beat it?  

Câmara: Yeah I mean when you close the lap for sure I felt a good lap but you don't really know where you are but I was feeling good. I felt it was a decent lap and to be there at the front already from Free practice, I was feeling good with the car and also doing the second lap in the first run, we had the chance to be fighting. So I was quite happy with that, it was a good lap. I think everything was in place and for sure it's a nice place to start on Sunday. Tomorrow makes things a bit more interesting but for sure we're going try our best.   

FIA Formula 2: Well you're in the championship fight now obviously and are you focused on that Feature Race on Sunday or is it something you just kind of put out of your mind and just focus on the task at hand? 

Câmara: Yeah I think like every moment I am just focusing race by race just to try to see what we can maximise. Like I said obviously tomorrow will be a bit more tough starting more at the back but for sure on Sunday we're going to have good chances and just try to maximise what we can. I’m looking forward to both races, the racing here is exciting so and at the moment there is no rain chance but that makes things a bit more interesting, just make sure that we're preparing well and be ready for both races. 

FIA Formula 2: Well congratulations on that pole position. Alex coming to you two-tenths back, extremely close out there, were you happy with the lap? 

Alexander Dunne: No, I think in general the session wasn't that easy. We were P1 after run one which was nice but I think we struggled a little bit with the balance to get it quite in the window of where I was happy with it so I think for that final run I was kind of trying to maybe drag something out of it which wasn't quite there so we made a change for the final run and it was a little bit better but I think in the end I wasn't quite as comfortable as I would have liked to have been and then with that it made it putting the lap together quite difficult. So it wasn't a great lap to be honest, but I think to add to the consistency that we've had in quali and be there in the top two again is nice. So I think it wasn't the easiest of sessions and I wouldn't say I'm particularly happy with it but again to not be over the moon and still be P2 it's not a bad place to be.  

FIA Formula 2: You had mentioned it there about qualifying and your consistency. Are you happy with that consistency because you have been qualifying quite well lately? 

Dunne: Yeah I mean we haven't qualified outside the top four yet but I also haven't qualified on pole yet which I would like. But no I mean it's been pretty good. I'm feeling confident and comfortable in myself, and I think I'm doing a good job at always maximising what we've got and always putting a good lap on the table. I think Rodin are doing a good job as well whether I do an amazing lap or a lap that's not great it's still always been in the top five which is a nice place to be you know that you have that little bit of buffer that if you do make a small mistake then it's still not going to be the end of the world. I think the team and I in that respect are doing a really good job. 

FIA Formula 2: Same question to you about the championship you have played yourself right into this thing do you focus on that at all for Sunday?  

Dunne: We'll have to wait and see. I think our race pace in the last two weekends hasn't been quite there so we need to make sure we get on top of that this weekend but it is the same, starting P2 and of course going for the win would be nice but if we can finish on the podium again, I'd be happy. 

FIA Formula 2: Thank you for that Alex appreciate it. Kush coming to you, extremely tight margins out there today just missing out on P2 how was that session for you?  

Kush Maini: Yeah I think obviously run one first lap I was happy with. I think we were P1 and Alex did a good lap on the second lap and I really didn't have the grip so going into the second set I knew it was going to be tight between at least a couple of us and I think the lap was good until sector three. I think sector three I didn't really put it together, the car was great today and a bit from my side there in sector three I don't know if it would have been good enough for pole but definitely a lot closer but still you know top three in a Championship like F2 I mean sometimes it doesn't matter if you're first or third at the start you know. So it puts me in a decent position as well for tomorrow to get points in both races and I'm generally happy.  

FIA Formula 2: You'd mentioned sector three I actually was going to ask you about that do you know like exactly what happened in the lap?  

Maini: Yeah I just missed into Stowe, did the wet line basically. I was missing the rubber so for sure a bit lost there but I mean if you ask these two guys, I'm sure they can pick out places where they could have done better so. 

FIA Formula 2: If you had to put it all together, do you think pole was possible today?  

Maini: Probably but then he will say he can go another tenth or two quicker so it's the same story, I think.  

FIA Formula 2: Thank you all.