Round 11 Post-Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Welcome everyone to today's FIA Formula 2 Press Conference following the Sprint Race in Madrid. Joining us are P3 from Trident, Laurens van Hoepen, P2 from AIX Racing, Emerson Fittipaldi, and from Hitech, claiming his first Formula 2 victory, Ritomo Miyata. Ritomo, congratulations on the victory. How does that one feel?

Ritomo Miyata: I am really happy. Finally we won a race because we have struggled during the season. To finally win is a really good feeling.

FIA Formula 2: Take me through the start because you had a great one.

Miyata: I was expecting an overtake opportunity at the start, so I really focused on the launch. We managed the race well from there.

FIA Formula 2: It is the first win for Hitech since Baku last year. Tell me about the car they gave you today.

Miyata: This year I expected much more, but during the season we struggled, especially on short-run performance. We analysed everything during the summer break and finally came back with strong performance. That is why we won today, and since Monza we have been back to our level.

FIA Formula 2: Emerson, congratulations on P2 and your first Formula 2 podium. How does that feel?

Emerson Fittipaldi: It feels great to be on the podium in Formula 2 in my rookie season. Doing it with AIX is incredible. We have worked hard all season through a lot of challenges and difficulties. It is always rewarding to stand on the podium after all that effort.

FIA Formula 2: Laurens was chasing you at the end. How hard was it to hold him off?

Fittipaldi: It was quite tough. The car was not easy to drive and I was struggling quite a lot, but I kept it on the track and managed to finish P2.

FIA Formula 2: You started on the Hard tyre. How was the degradation?

Fittipaldi: This track is very demanding on the tyres because it has high-speed, medium-speed and low-speed corners. It is a tough circuit and I think tomorrow will be a great race as well.

FIA Formula 2: Laurens, congratulations on P3. Can you take me through your move on Noel?

Laurens van Hoepen: The start was not great, but after that we had good pace, partly because of the compound we were on. I knew I had to make the move at some point. Overtaking is very difficult here, so I prepared it as much as possible and when I saw my chance I went for it. It worked out well and it was a calculated move.

FIA Formula 2: Talk us through the closing laps when you were behind Emerson.

Van Hoepen: It is hard to follow on this track because overtaking opportunities are limited. I was trying to pressure him into a mistake, but my tyres were fading as well. I got close a few times but it was not enough.

FIA Formula 2: You started on the Soft tyre. Did you know it would remain competitive for the whole race?

Van Hoepen: That was the plan. We hoped it would be a little stronger at the start and maybe weaker at the end, but the performance stayed quite similar throughout the race. That was positive, although it is a shame we could not make more of it.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations on P3.