Frederik Vesti on the 2024 season so far, winning in Monte Carlo and much more

Racing in Monte Carlo is always special but winning in the Principality is something only a very few drivers have done. One of that select group is Frederik Vesti, who took top honours in last year’s Feature Race after also qualifying on Pole for PREMA Racing.

So, ahead of the Monte Carlo Qualifying this weekend, we sat down with the Dane to talk about the season so far, what his advice would be to the drivers about tackling Monaco and much more.

Vesti on the first four rounds of the season…

“The season is incredibly wide open! The rookies have been doing a good job, but the experienced drivers have also shown what that experience counts for. There is always an advantage at the start of the year knowing what to expect and I think that's what we are seeing now. I can't wait to see the next few rounds as we head to some of the circuits that all the drivers are familiar with. Monaco will also be an interesting and unique challenge for everyone.”

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On who has caught his eyes so far…

“Zane Maloney has done a great job so far. He started the year off so well in Bahrain and that gives him a bit of an advantage in the Championship. I've also been impressed with Paul Aron, who has done a really good job as a rookie. We know it's a very talented crop of rookie drivers so it will be interesting to see how they all compare over the course of the year.”

On what makes Monaco such a special event…

“Monaco is by far the most special race on the whole calendar. I think if you were to ask all 22 drivers at the beginning of the season which one race they want to win, it would be Monaco. It's so difficult to get right and it is so easy to make mistakes. To be confident there and do well you need to be fully aware and in control of your emotions. There is a lot of pressure, and you need to take risks, but you need to be in control of that risk at the same time. That, along with the history, is what makes Monaco so special.”

On what makes the track so unique…

“The barriers are so close, closer than at any other race. You also have the knowledge of where you are driving! If you go there outside of the race week, it's just relatively normal roads with lots of traffic. When it's the race weekend, it transforms. It's tight, it's narrow, and it's incredibly bumpy. Every driver knows how special Monaco is, so you automatically apply more pressure to yourself. The sensation of speed is so much greater too and these F2 cars are very powerful. It's a special feeling! I remember last year before Qualifying that my heart was beating at 140 beats per minute, just because I was so excited to jump into the car.”

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On what he believes the keys are to getting Pole in Monaco...

“Getting Pole in Monaco was one of the biggest highlights of my career so far. Winning the race is big but getting Pole is proof that you are the fastest driver on that day. The key to it is building up your speed over the weekend. You want to get a good reference in FP and take it step-by-step. The biggest mistake you can make is trying to take it flat out straight away. You are more than likely to have an incident if you do. That puts you on the back foot straight away. Last year, I was really focused on my driving and techniques around the lap. When I reached the end of Qualifying, then it was time to go flat out and take the necessary risks. It's this combination that it is vital.

On the advice he would give to the Formula 2 rookies before the weekend…

“To have a good weekend, you need to be really confident on the brakes. The bumps mean it is quite easy to lock up and make mistakes. Being able to push the brakes whilst remaining inside the limits is very difficult in Monaco. It is critical though and is what makes the difference, particularly in Qualifying. Of course, starting at the front or near the front is very important to a good weekend. To do that, you need to be consistently quickly across the whole lap. It is not good enough to just be fast in one or two corners. You need to be right up against the walls in all the corners and, with no run-off, there is no margin for error. It is key to get into a really good rhythm as the corners all flow together.”

On who he thinks will win this weekend…

“It is wide open! That is especially true in Monaco. Whoever gets it right mentally will be able to take pole and fight for victory. There are definitely a good number of drivers that I think could win this year. I am definitely excited to see who steps up and shows what they are capable of. I want to wish all the best to every driver taking part - I wish I could drive there this weekend so I'm very jealous! From the memories of winning last year, it holds a special place in my heart.”