Round 8 Post-Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 2: Welcome everyone to today's FIA Formula 2 Press Conference following what was a thrilling Sprint Race here at Spa. Joining us after finishing P3 for DAMS Lucas Oil, it's Dino Beganovic. In second place from Rodin Motorsport, it's Martinius Stenshorne, and from Invicta Racing, capturing his sixth win, it's Joshua Dürksen. Joshua, congratulations, your third podium and second win of the season, how were you able to do it?

Joshua Dürksen: Well, good question, I mean, I would have wished that I had more podiums this season, but finally, I'm here now, it has been a long time, and it was a very good race. I think we had a very good start straight away into P3, then I was fighting with Montoya, I could overtake him, and then also with Martinius, the DRS is very powerful. Then as soon as I was P1 I tried to create a gap to get out of the DRS zone, and it was a very nice race, the car felt good, I was feeling good, and somehow everything fitted together today.

FIA Formula 2: So with your sixth victory in F2 here, you're just too shy of the record of eight, do you think you can reach that?

Dürksen: 100%, I think yes, I think we had a very tough time, but we learned a lot, we worked a lot, and I think we will have a much better pace now, and much better results on these coming races, and I think that record is for sure beatable.

FIA Formula 2: Were you having to really manage the tyre quite a bit in this one?

Dürksen: Yeah, behind the cars I was trying to manage for sure, just to save a bit for the end, and especially for the moments that it matters, especially Sector 2, because it's quite tricky to overtake there anyways, and as soon as I was in the lead, I just started to use a bit more of the tyre just to make sure that I can stay in front. Spa is a track where a bit of management is for sure important.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations, Joshua, coming to you Martinius your third podium of the season, how does that one feel?

Martinius Stenshorne: It feels good, obviously it's been a few rounds now where we haven't been doing super well, so to be back now feels good, and hopefully we can continue in this way now and not like we have been.

FIA Formula 2: Yeah, do you feel like this could be that turning point that you've been looking for this season?

Stenshorne: Yeah, I think so. Obviously the first four rounds were really good for us, always in the top and fighting for good points and podiums, so it's been a couple of rounds now where it hasn't been going so well, but we've done some big changes which I think will show.

FIA Formula 2: It looked like quite a few of you were managing throughout the race itself. For yourself, were you having to manage the tyre quite a bit at the beginning?

Stenshorne: Yeah, I had to do quite a lot as well, but it was quite difficult because Montoya behind me in the beginning was pushing quite hard, so then I had to as well push quite hard to keep the lead, and then I got a big gap which was suddenly gone after a Safety Car. But yeah, I think the pace was not bad, just difficult to stay in the lead with the DRS, so I think if we had some more laps with the DRS, it would be possible to fight back.

FIA Formula 2: Congratulations on the result Martinius. Dino, coming to you, that's your third podium of the season. You started P5, how were you able to secure P3 at the end of this one?

Dino Beganovic: I was just focused on a good start from the beginning, which we were able to do, and then take it step by step, not overdo anything, not overdo the tyres in the beginning, and then go for it step by step, and I think we managed to do it well. We had a lot of laps behind Safety Car, which is a bit unfortunate, but I think still it's a good result, considering the last couple of rounds have been quite tough for us.

FIA Formula 2: You were saying you were having to manage a little bit at the beginning there. How much pace was left in it towards the end for yourself?

Beganovic: It's difficult to say with the Safety Car, but we were definitely managing quite a bit, and there was quite a bit more to push in the end. Then there's also the track limits to be aware of, staying on track, and I was already on the limit with that, so always having that in the back of your head is not nice, but obviously I think our pace was good, and we can be confident for tomorrow.

FIA Formula 2: Congrats on the finish.