Armstrong doesn’t want to ‘leave anything on the table’ in 2022

17 March 2022

With more rounds than ever before and fewer races per weekend than in 2021, Marcus Armstrong reckons the new-look F2 calendar will result in a better balance of quality and quantity, which he hopes will allow him to unlock his potential.

Joining Hitech Grand Prix for the season, the 21-year-old will align himself with long-term friend Oliver Oakes, who played a leading role in originally bringing him over to Europe from New Zealand.

Joining his former ADAC and Italian F4 teammate Jüri Vips at the British team, 2022 will mark Armstrong’s third season at this level, and the Kiwi says he doesn’t want to “leave anything on the table.”

“It's cool, the environment here is very happy,” said Armstrong. “Jüri and I were teammates in F4, so it isn't the first time we've had to withstand each other in the driver room… It’s cool and I am feeling good for the season.

Armstrong will drive for Hitech Grand Prix in 2022

“We want to get the most out of our potential and I think that my experience will help with that. We need to be good in the important moments when it’s crunch time, and we need to be consistent.

“In F2, a million things happen over the course of a weekend and the emotion goes from high to low, so it is important to make sure that we eliminate the mistakes and remain consistent.”

Armstrong came close to unlocking his full potential in the final few races of 2021, clinching a maiden victory in the first Sprint Race at Jeddah, although he was then an innocent bystander in a four-car collision in the second Sprint Race.

A second victory looked to be on the cards in Sprint Race 2 at Yas Marina until a mechanical issue forced him to pull over from first and hand Guanyu Zhou the win.

Armstrnog will reunite with Hitech Team Principal Oliver Oakes, who played a role in Armstrong's move from New Zealand to Europe

“It gives me confidence that I experience that,” Armstrong continued. “I always thought that we had the potential to do that. One of my goals for the year is to get the best out of myself, so knowing that I can do it is comforting.”

Discussing F2’s new-look format for 2022, which will feature two races a weekend and 13 rounds, Armstrong added: “I like the idea of more rounds because it is quality running, as opposed to quantity.

“Three races a weekend was demanding on the mechanics, so for the team environment I think that it will be good to have two races a weekend. I love racing, so having more Free Practices, more Qualifying sessions and more races is in the best interest of us as drivers.”