2022 Round 5 post-Qualifying press conference

Thoughts from Lawson, Pourchaire and Iwasa

FIA Formula 2: Many congratulations to the top three qualifiers for Sunday's FIA Formula 2 Feature Race here in Monaco. Starting in third place, Ayumu Iwasa for DAMS, in second place Théo Pourchaire, for ART Grand Prix. And starting on pole position, Liam Lawson for Carlin. Liam many congratulations, pole at Monaco. How good does it feel?

Liam Lawson: Yes, it's definitely pretty cool. The lap itself was really nice. I think after yesterday, the car felt really good. So the pace was there, we just needed to put it together. You go into qualifying and I think most of us in FP are at like 99%. You don't want to go a little bit over and then you just basically have to use that last little bit in Quali. So, it's a nice feeling to put the lap together like that. I'm just excited now to hopefully have a good start on Sunday and try and put us back in a good position.

FIA Formula 2: Now I don't I don't want to pour cold water on your moment of glory. But just there is a bit of controversy about what happened at the end when Drugovich put it in the wall at Rascasse. What's your take on that situation? Did you improve while Drugovich was in the wall?

Lawson: I think that was the best lap, but I didn't see him until basically, before the line. The wall curves onto the street, and it's basically a constant right-hand turn, and he was so late that I didn't see the car basically until we went around. For me, obviously, I'm going to say it was fine. I obviously left plenty of space, but I wasn't aware that it was there basically until it was too late.

FIA Formula 2: Liam, you won the Sprint Race last year, but had it taken away for a technical infringement. How hungry are you to rectify that this time around?

Lawson: Extremely. That was a very, very tough moment for us last year. So for sure the goal this weekend is redemption. Obviously, we've done the lap time today. And if we can start where we're looking to start for Sunday, it puts us in a good position.

FIA Formula 2: Many congratulations to you. Théo, fastest in Group B, just how good was the lap? How good is the car around here?

Théo Pourchaire: The car is amazing. I would like to thank the team once again because we were very close to that pole. Unfortunately, there was a red flag. But the most important thing is that Jake is fine because I think it was a big crash in the first section. For sure the last lap is always the fastest one, but it's like that. I'm happy to be P2, P1 of my group, and starting second in the Feature Race is a good place. But we had everything to do the pole today.

FIA Formula 2: Now on paper Group B should be faster. With more rubber going down on the track, it wasn't. Why do you think that was the case?

Pourchaire: Only because of the red flag. To be honest, we were about to go quicker in the last lap. I think we had the track advantage a bit. But it's like that. I mean, it's Monaco, and we know that we have a bad position in the pitlane this weekend. We are with Mercedes in the garage, which means that we are last on track. So we are at risk with the red flags and that happened to us today. But it's okay, P2 fine.

FIA Formula 2: Theo, it's Monaco, it's unique. You won this race last year. What is the secret? You've clearly found something?

Pourchaire: I will not say the secret for sure! The secret... is a secret. So I will keep that. I feel confident on that track. I love driving around here. I think everyone loves this track. It's very, very good that I'm fast here. I take pleasure driving here. So we will focus on the Feature Race, we need some good points to catch the Championship leader.

FIA Formula 2: Many congratulations to you, and Ayumu coming to you now your first time in Monaco, P3 on the grid, you must be thrilled?

Ayumu Iwasa: Yeah, I'm really happy to be honest, because this is Monaco. It was a really nice session for me. Actually, I could get good confidence too in the car and my driving to push to the maximum, so it was very positive. I could improve quite a lot in the last push, so my best lap was not enough until the second push. I had quite a lot of margin in Free Practice. It was my biggest improvement because the car was feeling great.

FIA Formula 2: Tell us a little bit about the preparations you've done for this weekend on the simulator? How much work have you done?

Iwasa: Really a lot! I drove quite a lot and also, I was watching the old races. I think actually my driving is a bit more aggressive compared to others, but I had the good confidence to drive in a slow corner. So, I think it was working for this track.

FIA Formula 2: Ayu can we just get your thoughts on the yellow flag at the end of your session?

Iwasa: Actually, I didn't see the yellow on the last corner and I just found the car on the inside of the wall on the main straight. So yeah, I don't know yet.

FIA Formula 2: Well, we'll have to wait and see, many congratulations to all three of you.