Then and Now: Victor Martins on his growth from Formula 3 to Formula 2

20 June 2025

Since stepping into the Formula 3 paddock back in 2021, Victor Martins has made quite the name for himself, and as he continues to write his story in Formula 2, the ART Grand Prix driver has a lot of proud of.

Recently, the Frenchman sat down with us to talk through his F3 title, his rookie campaign in F2 campaign, the lessons he took from 2024, as well as the importance of the 2025 season.

“I think it's going well, not as I expected at first, because you always want to jump up the ladder quickly, take the Championships and then go into F1.

“But I have improved, I have learned from these two categories, Formula 3 back in 2021 and then I won it in 2022 with ART, my team right now.

“I think it's been a long but enjoyable journey. There have been some big highs but big lows at the same time, and now I have a lot of pressure to get back on top with the team.

“But I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned how to mentally get it right, how to stay calm and focused in the really low moments, and it's been good to show myself in front of the Formula 1 world.

Martins has already achieved one Pole Position and podium so far in 2025

“First with Alpine throughout those years, to have the opportunity to drive an F1 car also, thanks to what I was doing in Formula 2 and with the title in Formula 3, and now in a new chapter with Williams.

“But it's time to achieve the big thing this year, so that we can make that step up.

“Looking back, I think the growth from year one to year two in F3, was about putting on the track what I had learned in 2021.

“We didn't have the best package in 2021. The goal was to shine as much as possible throughout the year and be consistent, but it was quite tough at some points on certain tracks.

“But let's say, just the first year being a rookie, discovering everything, how the F1 world works, and you only have one Free Practice before Qualifying. So you need to have a lot of confidence, you need to be prepared as much as possible before the event.

“All those things you need a bit of time to adapt too. If you have a quick car, it for sure helps you, although you still always have the ability to work on it.

Martins looks back fondly on his 2022 Formula 3 title victory

“I think the second year was all about getting everything right, even if it was not going perfectly every time. But it was just about keeping it consistent, being confident with the team and being straight forward with them.

“This world is about being humble but also being honest with the people you are working with. You also still have to be respectful when it comes to making improvements.

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“Winning F3, is still a great achievement. But I am in a position where I want to win Formula 2, so it's been kind of forgetting Formula 3 and what I did there, but for sure I want to do the same in Formula 2, in fact, even better.

“I want to do it with a better margin, because winning Formula 2 needs to be done in a certain way, a good dominance to go into F1. It's my third year, I know it's my last chance in F2, so it's time to do it.

“The jump from F3 to F2 though was quite natural. I think it was just about procedures, strategies with the tyres, having two compounds to deal with on the weekend, but I had the help of the team.

Martins talked through the jump from F3 to F2 and what he had to adapt too as a rookie

“They are there to support you for whatever you need, they help you as much as possible for things you didn't anticipate but they did. It's their job to show you everything you need before a race, having the best preparation in the simulator with the engineers.

“So it was quite natural in terms of driving, but there was an adaptation about how to push, and when, because in F2, you need to be much more precise on where and when you need to push.

“The races are longer, you have degradation at certain times of the race, while F3 you can push flat out. You know you have degradation on certain types of tracks, so you prepare for it, and then adapt your driving.

“Looking back on last year, I will say you are always a bit surprised when someone tells you the truth. The first reaction is like 'Okay but we are not doing it right in both ways, so why are you telling me what I am doing wrong’.

“But there is another approach for the second time when you are like 'Okay but what's our goal?' Our goal is to be P1, at the top, we are not, so how do we do it? Then you listen to the guy in front.

After a tough 2024 campaign Martins says he and his ART team have got closer after some honest conversations

“We are stronger after last year. We built a big relationship where I am honest with them, they are honest with me, about how I approach the weekend, how I perform or didn't, because sometimes you wake up and you are not there and you need to accept that.

“We did good, we managed well last year. We struggled too much at the start of last year, but it happens, and now it's 2025.

“In myself, I am keeping all the negatives, to work on them. During the winter, we did a lot of work, to debrief where we were going wrong, either myself or the team.

“But then you forget about it, making sure to keep the positives also, but it feels a bit like I am coming from 2023, and 2024 doesn't exist. So that's how I see it. I know I will have the car this year, everyone worked so hard during the winter, even myself, so it's all good.”