Pepe Martí has had a difficult triple header in Monaco and Imola, but the Spaniard is excited to reset for his home race, the Barcelona GP. Martí started the Formula 2 season with multiple podiums and a sprint race win. However, coming into the European triple header, Pepe Martí has struggled to find his footing. The Spaniard left Imola and Monaco pointless, and he dropped from the top three in the Drivers’ Championship standings to seventh.
Despite the difficult slew of results, Martí has kept a positive outlook in the series. He told media, including Pit Debrief, ahead of the weekend that having his home race at the end of this stint has helped his mentality tremendously.
He said, “Yes, I think the motivation is just that. We come from a bad weekend and it’s a home race. I think I’ve mentioned in every single interview, but I’m sleeping at my place. I’m eating my mum’s food for dinner. So, what more can I ask to bounce back? I think it’s surely going to be a good weekend and whatever happens, I’m always going to try my best.”
Martí noted clearly that with the Barcelona Round being his home race, he wants to perform, but if it another difficult weekend he’ll pick up his head and move on.
“I think every driver will aspire to do our best within the circumstances. Obviously, this weekend I’m aiming high, but at the same time, it’s just 25 points and I think we just have to take it as one more. Enjoy the learning curve and obviously try to grow in every lap.”
Championship hopes
As the season gets closer to the halfway mark, the discussion of championship winners gets louder. Currently in seventh, with two bad weekends out of the way Martí needs a good weekend to get himself back on the board.
But he admitted that he’s trying not to be any extra pressure on the weekend, saying. “I don’t think it differs from any other. In the end, it’s 25 points to be added, like it is in Monaco and like it will be in Austria.”
“So, I think it doesn’t vary too much, but obviously, you know, home Grand Prix, so it’s hopefully a good place to do a good job. I’m excited for tomorrow. I think tomorrow is for sure the most important day of the weekend, trying to do a good qualifying, hopefully be in the top three, and then we can aim to find some good things in the weekend.”
Consistency
Consistency has been the most important factor to many F2 and F3 campaigns over the year. However, it is extremely challenging in these series to maintain consistency, and Martí noted that with only one practice session, it becomes even harder to be ready for qualifying.
He said, “I think the fact that we only have 45 minutes of free practice makes it extremely difficult to put the car in a decent window, even yourself in a decent window.”
“I think here in Barcelona, we’re generally just going to have one actual really good lap of tyre before heading into qualifying with the prime tyre.”
He also noted that his aim in Barcelona is to get it right straight away, which is what he was missing in Imola and Monaco.
“It’s obviously super critical to do a good job at the beginning, be on the pace right away, which I think is what I didn’t do good enough in both Monaco and Imola.”
“I’m hoping that we can turn things around here where I have so much experience and hopefully do a good performance.”
Racing in Spain
Next year introduces a new Spanish circuit to the calendar in Formula 1 in Madrid. There have been questions over the future of Barcelona and if it becomes two tracks or rotation, or potentially losing Barcelona entirely.
Barcelona is Martí’s home race and when he was asked about the potential of having two Spanish race he welcomed the prospect.
“The outcome which I would like the most is to be able to race in both. Obviously, for that. You need to be in F1 at the moment. But I’ve always mentioned how I envy MotoGP for having four Grands Prix in Spain up until now.”
“It was amazing for them and for the Spanish fans. I’ve always said that I would love for the same to be done with Formula 1. I think there are a lot of countries that have an appeal. That want to be racing and want a race to be held at their place.”
“Obviously, Madrid is a lot like Luke said. It’s a fantastic location. It’s a great city. Obviously, the capital of Spain. I think it makes a complete sense to me that they have a race as well.”
