2023 Round 9 post-Sprint Race press conference

Thoughts from Vesti, Pourchaire and Doohan

FIA Formula 2: A very warm welcome to the top three finishers of the FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race here at Silverstone. In third place, Jack Doohan for Invicta Virtuosi Racing. In second place, Théo Pourchaire for ART Grand Prix and taking his fourth win of the 2023 campaign, our winner Frederik Vesti for PREMA Racing. Now Fred, that looked like a very calm, controlled race from the outside. How was it in the cockpit?

Frederik Vesti: Yeah, it was quite calm. Obviously, at the beginning I had a bit of pressure. I wanted to pull a gap to be sure I could have a bit more of a calm race later. I think the way we expected and hoped the race to go, it was actually the way it went, which was really nice. I was able to pull a big gap and manage at the end, which was nice.

FIA Formula 2: What were the conditions like in those early laps?

Vesti: I think for me on pole it was okay because I could see everything easily, but obviously just behind me, I couldn't see any cars because of the spray. So, I can imagine that it must not have been very nice on the first few laps from behind.

FIA Formula 2: Now you were pulling away at more than half a second a lap during that race. How good was your car?

Vesti: Very good. I think we have found something on the wet which is working really well in PREMA. Just in general, this victory means a lot to me. My engineer is not here this weekend, he's at home with some personal issues. To win like this is very, very important to me and shows that we can still have a strong team, but I'm definitely looking forward to having him back.

FIA Formula 2: Now the pace of the car was good in the wet, what is it like in the dry? What can you tell us about tomorrow's Feature Race? In hindsight, how Qualifying was in particular?

Vesti: Honestly, it was good. Yesterday both Ollie and I were on to good results. I think my engine failed at the end of Qualifying. That's obviously not ideal, but the team did a good job to fit a new one and on the dry, the car felt as strong as today. I think just how we manage the driving is probably the main thing for tomorrow.

FIA Formula 2: Alright, very well done, and good luck in the Feature Race. Théo coming to you now. A very patient race by you, are you happy with how it panned out?

Théo Pourchaire: Yeah, for sure, always happy with a podium for sure. I wanted to win this race because starting from P3 in the rain, it creates a more possibilities to overtake and to win a race. But at the beginning, visibility was near zero. I couldn't see anything in the straight even from P3, so I can imagine in the pack it was crazy. I struggled to overtake Isack; first Oliver overtook me. I struggled a lot with understeer at the beginning, then my car balance went back in a good place. I had a good car and I overtook Isack too late, which was the issue. But yeah, I mean I'm happy with P2.

FIA Formula 2: How were your tyres at the end of the race? How difficult was it to keep them alive?

Pourchaire: It was really difficult. At the end, I did one cool lap just to do the fastest lap, which was a really great idea. I mean I couldn't win this race anymore, so I just tried to grab one more point, which is always important. The rear tyres were struggling a lot at the end, the track was drying out and there was no more water to cool down the tyres in the straights. We did our best, but I'm happy with P2.

FIA Formula 2: Alright, very well done to you, Jack, we'll come to you now. You had to fight for P3 this afternoon, just talk us through it.

Jack Doohan: Unfortunately, it didn't go as smoothly as I would have hoped. Not really the racing standard that I was hoping for, but what I got. I really had to be very smart because I didn’t want to commit to any of those moves, I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now, I'd probably be in the gravel trap. Luckily in the end, he was trying to close the door on me, but ended up making mistakes so I was able to get past with no damage, which was nice. Then, I could see my pace immediately dropped by two and a half seconds per lap, what I had the whole time. Just unfortunately, it wasn't as easy to get past as I would have liked.

FIA Formula 2: Now you're referring to Ollie Bearman in your description there. Do you think he was too aggressive in his defence today?

Doohan: How he drives his car’s up to him. Obviously, I will let the Stewards dictate that really, but occasionally by the time I'd get to the exit, I wouldn't be exactly alongside because mid-corner when I'd get alongside, he would have a snap and go to crash into me, so I'd have to get out. And then, he would think it's acceptable to push me then off track. That is not really the standard that I choose to drive by, but he's a racing driver and he's fighting for a podium position, so not saying I wouldn't expect anything less, but maybe a little bit cleaner next time would be great.

FIA Formula 2: Jack, you were competitive last weekend in Austria, you're on the podium here at Silverstone. What should we read into these two performances? Are you happy with your car now?

Doohan: Yeah, I think yesterday we were on for pole. Juan Manuel had a spin through Maggots and Becketts in front of me, so I had to back out not knowing where he was going to come back on track. That ended up being my lap that I was only a tenth off pole, so quite disappointing and then I got impeded on the following lap. So, to get P4 out of that was quite strong looking at the positives and I feel in a good window I have to say, finally having something. I'm gaining confidence back, it is nice and it's obviously Round 9 so it's quite late, but I'm hoping we can keep this up and take advantage of the guys in front when we can.

FIA Formula 2: All right. Very well done to all three of you.