Round 8 Post Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Hello and welcome to Silverstone for the press conference of our top three finishers in today’s FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race. In third place we have Roman Stanek from Invicta Racing, in second is Sebastián Montoya from PREMA Racing and your race winner for the first time in FIA Formula 2 is Leonardo Fornaroli also from Invicta Racing, Leo not only your first win in F2 but by my calculations your first win in 1491 days, how are the emotions right now?

Leonardo Fornaroli: I am very happy, very satisfied with the race. It wasn’t a very good start and Kush past me. Then I said no please I have to regain that P1. We fought quite a bit going to T7 and then luckily managed to repass him. There was no Safety Car so it was like a Qualifying race. I knew what to do to have a nice gap to keep P2 behind before the big DRS zone, otherwise they would pass me. It was fun, very happy about the tyre management and everything because I was able to drive in good conditions at the end to be able to fight with Sebastián. It was quite close, we were pushing like crazy. Very satisfied with today, it’s a Sprint Race of course but still P1 feels good.

FIA Formula 2: You said you’d been trying to get that win and how much you wanted it, I know you say it is just a Sprint Race but you have consistently been at the front the last few years, were you confident once you got into the lead that you could convert?

Fornaroli: Yes today I was quite confident that I could take it. The last round I started on Pole a few times and I couldn’t get the win; I really wanted that P1 and finally I took it. I am very satisfied.

FIA Formula 2: Were there any nerves in the car on those closing laps, you mentioned that Sebastián was putting you under pressure in those final few laps?

Fornaroli: Well there was also a bit of pressure at the start because Kush was quite close. I knew that the pace was good. We had changed quite a lot of things, compared to yesterday, it is also nice to bounce back from a disappointing quali. I saw the pace was good today, so I am also quite happy about that, happy that the adjustments we made worked. Speaking of the race, mid-race I saw Kush dropping back and five, six laps to go Seb overtook him and he was looking strong, so I said okay it’s time to push. Luckily I was in good conditions with the tyres. I was able to remain in front of him. Happy about today.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations on the win, Seb second place for you, your third podium of the season, how strong did you feel out there?

Sebastian Montoya: Very! I was very fast, very competitive. Last week we had a very competitive race car but due to the contact in the Feature Race I kind of dropped back quite a way with damage and had to drive through. I was hoping to have that speed advantage again this weekend and I guess I got it. I was really happy from the first lap of FP we have been very competitive. It was a really fun race.

FIA Formula 2: You put in one quick lap on the penultimate lap of the race to cut that gap to about a second to Leo, were you saving a bit to push late at the end? Montoya: Yeah it was quite difficult to overtake, especially with Kush sometimes having DRS it was hard to know exactly when I was going to be able to overtake. But I knew I had the pace advantage so I managed the best I could. I saw I was catching Leo and then I realised that we were doing the same lap time so one lap I decided to drop back a bit and take care of my tyres before pushing again. The moment I closed the gap he started pushing more and more as well. At that point I think, I spent a lot of laps behind Kush trying to fight with him, so my tyres were a bit off. I was trying to catch at the end but as I said the wind was hectic and the dirty air is quite big, Leo had strong pace, so it was hard to overtake. But I’m happy with P2.

FIA Formula 2: This result means four top five finishes in a row for you now, do you feel like you are really starting to hit your stride in Formula 2? Montoya: I think I have been hitting my stride since Jeddah honestly, even in Australia I was really competitive I just made a mistake in Qualifying but still finished P6 in the Sprint. Bahrain was difficult for us but then we bounced back in Jeddah. We had some unfortunate luck and then we came back to Europe, and we have been very competitive the whole time. I am very grateful for the team and the people I have around me. We are doing a mega job and working really hard to keep improving and that’s our goal. Just take it race by race, day by day and just get better every time we go out on track.

FIA Formula 2: Thanks well done today, Roman onto you now another third place for you, your second in three races but how tough was that one?

Roman Stanek: Well, it wasn’t so tough, physically a little bit because Silverstone is a tough track. It was quite fun I have to say. I managed to get a good start, I actually tried to overtake Seb but I wasn’t able to do it. Then I had quite strong pace, it was quite difficult to overtake Kush so Seb and I stuck behind him for a while. Then Seb overtook him and then I managed to overtake him at two laps to go I think. He defended a lot but I managed to open the DRS and stay close and stick it around the outside of T15 which felt quite nice. Really enjoyed that race, it’s a shame that we started further back, maybe if we could start further up, but it’s a Sprint Race so good that we start further up tomorrow.

FIA Formula 2: Just talk us through that move with Kush late in the race there, were you concerned that the stewards were going to take a look at it at any point? They did clear you of any wrong doing there.

Stanek: No because I knew that I was ahead of him at the apex of the corner, so I just kept it flat on the exit of the corner. I don’t even remember if I ran wide, most likely yes. But he was defending the whole race a lot, so I felt relief to overtake him finally. Even if I was going to get a five second penalty, I don’t even know how much in front I finished, maybe three or four seconds, it wouldn’t have been enough but no I enjoyed that race.

FIA Formula 2: With Leo’s win and your podium, it is a big day for the team as well, how well are you guys all working together at the moment?

Stanek; Since the beginning of the season I have to say that the team is amazing. They have been very welcoming and supportive. Everyone actually, I enjoy it so much and I learn, although it is my third season in F2, every day you keep learning knew and knew information. With these guys I have learnt a lot so far. I am just very grateful that I can represent Czech Republic in this sport and be racing at a high level of motorsport.

FIA Formula 2: Well done Roman, congratulations everyone.