2018 Round 1 Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Hello and welcome to the press conference following the FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race in Bahrain. We are joined by race winner Artem Markelov for RUSSIAN TIME, in second place is Maximilian Günther for BWT Arden, and in third place is Sergio Sette Camara for Carlin. Artem, congratulations. A very different type of race for you than yesterday’s race, was it very difficult to judge today’s victory?

Artem Markelov: It was actually more difficult than yesterday, because today I had to survive with the tyres. The start was much better than yesterday as well (laughs), so the race was completely different to yesterday’s one. There’s nothing much to say because we have to save the tyres to the end and survive for the last four or five laps.

FIA Formula 2: Obviously the guys you could see in your mirrors were doing the same, but Nyck de Vries pitted. Were you surprised to see him go for that strategy?

Artem: I saw some car at the end of the race, I thought it was Nyck, but it was (Lando) Norris. So, that strategy was not working at the end of the second race, unlike last year. So, I’m pretty happy to sit here, actually.

FIA Formula 2: Thank you very much, congratulations. Maximilian, it’s your first Formula 2 podium. How do you feel?

Maximilian Günther: Yeah, I’m feeling really happy for sure. Starting from pole position, I wanted to do a clean start. Actually, I had a lot of wheelspin and lost the lead, ending up in P2. After a few laps behind Nyck I was thinking that maybe he was on a different strategy, as he was quite aggressive and going at quite a high speed, so I decided to go at my own pace. After a few more laps Artem was passing me, and I just tried to stay close to him. And yeah, it was all about managing tyres, trying to save the tyres a lot, and yeah, finally to be here and in P2 and happy to get my first podium in my first weekend.

FIA Formula 2: You’d started to close up on Artem a bit in the final laps, were you thinking you could catch up to him and make a move?

Maximilian: Well, I was thinking Artem was struggling and thought maybe there is a chance, but I was struggling as well! I think everyone was on the limit by the end and I didn’t want to risk it all and risk losing P2 by being too aggressive. Getting this position was important today.

FIA Formula 2: Thank you very much, congratulations. Sergio, on to you. Another podium for you this weekend, are you satisfied with this result?

Sergio Sette Camara: Yeah, I’m very happy to come away with a lot of points. I think it’s the most points I’ve got in a weekend in Formula 2, we want to be consistent this year, build together a championship, and the most important thing is to be always scoring.

FIA Formula 2: Obviously at the end there you had to defend from your teammate and attack Maximilian. How were you finding it there, with two rookies either side of you?

Sergio: Yeah, it was difficult. I think for Maximilian, he was also in a difficult situation but he had Artem a bit further ahead, so no dirty air. I was like, in a sandwich. If I pushed, I had to make a move otherwise I’d just get a lot of turbulence, and if I didn’t then Lando was going to get DRS so it wasn’t easy and in the final couple of laps I was under pressure from Lando, but yeah, I managed to keep my place and tried to make a move on Günther but not nearly enough to make it stick. He defended very well. So yeah, P3, good points. I’m happy too.

FIA Formula 2: Artem, just back to you. With yesterday’s recovery drive and today’s victory, do you feel like you’re one of the favourites for the title?

Artem: Actually, yes! Today’s been better because I was leading the race, which was a nice feeling actually, in the last laps as well. I will fight for the title, for sure.