Martins confident of taking first pole in 2025 after fast start to Silverstone weekend

4 July 2025

Victor Martins made a strong start to his Silverstone weekend by setting the fastest time of Free Practice, and the ART Grand Prix driver is confident of carrying that form into Qualifying.

The Williams Driver Academy member was in fine form throughout the 45-minute session, constantly in and amongst the top two on the timing screens after each push lap.

With the chequered flag waving, Martins completed a 1:41.699 to take P1 by 0.051s over his Hitech TGR rival Luke Browning in second.

PRACTICE: Martins leads Browning in opening Silverstone session

Reflecting on Practice, Martins said: “I think every lap I did was P1 or P2. There was a Red Flag that stopped me on one lap but definitely that lap was very good, it would’ve been P1.

“So I think the pace was overall great. It gives us good confidence ahead of qualifying. I think the car is in a good place, I am confident, I know the little things to improve on the car, I have already said them to the team, and I am confident they will give me a good car in Qualifying.

“It’s a good start to the weekend, but the weekends have always started well. We just need to do the same job as always, be up there in quali, and have a good start to the second half of the season.”

Martins was fastest in the Silverstone Free Practice ahead of Qualifying

Speaking more on his good Friday’s this season, Martins’ form so far has promised plenty given that he has qualified in the top three in six of the opening seven rounds.

However, this has yielded just one podium, which came at the Jeddah Feature Race, and Martins is hopeful a clean weekend will kickstart his campaign.

“We just need one clean weekend,” said Martins. “A weekend that is close to perfect will be helpful to come back in the Championship and then we can go to the next round with more confidence, because you know what to do, and you don’t need to overreact.

“So it will make a big difference to do a good weekend. I know it will come, it’s just a matter of time. We have had bad luck, we have had a few issues, but it’s getting there.”

In terms of Qualifying, Martins has achieved one pole this season, which came at the season-opener in Melbourne, where he inherited the position after Gabriele Minì was giving a three-place grid penalty for impeding.

Martins is feeling confident of carrying his form into Qualifying

Since then, he has qualified second four times – including at the last round in Spielberg – and the ART driver is hopeful that Silverstone – where he achieved his first Formula 2 win in 2023 – will see him return to the top.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Some of the key talking points we are looking forward to at Silverstone

“For sure, it’s time to take control,” said Martins when asked about taking pole. “I think it will give us extra confidence going into the races, but even if I don’t do it, it’s fine.

“I don’t need to put too much pressure on myself for pole. If it’s today, it’s today, if it’s in Budapest, it will be Budapest, it’s fine. We just need to be in the top three.”