ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins delivered a commanding performance during Qualifying to secure pole-position at the F2 British GP. After topping Free Practice, the Frenchman carried his momentum into Qualifying and proved unbeatable, edging out Rodin’s Alex Dunne and DAMS Lucas Oil’s Jak Crawford to pole. Aside from a slight setback in Barcelona, Martins has consistently and repeatedly qualified well this season, showcasing the form of a true seasoned veteran.
During the Post-Qualifying Press Conference, Martins spoke to Pit Debrief and other media outlets as he reflected on another impressive result.
Comfortable and strong Friday
After topping Free Practice, Martins felt confident in his abilities to secure pole position. The Frenchman deemed his Friday “a great day” and reflected positively on his performance. Although he wasn’t happy with the car’s balance after the first run, Martins explained that him and ART knew exactly what they needed to do to find improvements.
“Yeah, today was ours. I think we did a great day again. [Free Practice] was really strong.”
“I think we knew exactly what to improve for quality. Then run one was strong again. I was sitting P1, a bit upset and not so happy about the balance I had, but definitely we did the right choice.”
Several changes were made to Martins’ car before heading out for his second attempt. Although the changes didn’t feel significant, the Frenchman felt they made the car more comfortable—enough for him to secure P1.
“We changed something and then I was, I wouldn’t say much better, but it was just more comfortable and I delivered a good lap to get P1.”
Martins pleased with Qualifying overall
Setting off on his lap, Martins knew that if he kept it within track limits, he was easily in contention for at least a top-three finish. While the Frenchman always had sights on pole, he felt confident in the lap overall but noted that there was definitely more to find in sector two.
“I think, honestly, from the first few corners in sector one on my last lap, I knew if I was just doing not more than what I should do, I was going to get at least a top three again. Definitely aiming for pole, but I think the lap was really good. I think sector two, I had a bit more, definitely.”
Although his tyres were reaching the end of its peak during his second lap, Martins was pleased that everything came together in his favour, making it a good day for him.
“If, for example, on the second lap, I still had tyres, I think I could have improved sector two, but definitely the overall lap was quite a good one, a clean one. And definitely I’m on the good side today, so it was good.”
Confidence key to success
Martins explained that he had felt confident from the get-go. Having consistently delivered strong laps, he added that even in Free Practice, his final laps showed pace.
“I think I’m quite confident that since the beginning of the day, we were always there. Every lap I completed was really strong. Even in [Free Practice], the last few laps were always there.”
In order to convert his Qualifying success to better race results, Martins knows he needs a clean weekend. The Frenchman has finished once on the podium this year. But, his journey to the top step of the podium continues in 2025. Bouncing back from a sub-par weekend in Austria, the Frenchman acknowledged that there have been lessons learnt since then. Martins strongly believes that he is equipped with everything he needs to secure his first win of the season on Sunday.
“We didn’t have so much [degradation], so I’m quite confident that we can have a good car, can deliver every time good laps with some clean driving. And I think Red Bull Ring was a bit like something to put on the side. We know what went wrong.”
“I’ve got the sprint race, which went wrong also. My floor was really damaged, so I couldn’t get a good data for Sunday. And I think our approach was wrong in Red Bull Ring.”
“So definitely if I get a clean weekend, I know on Sunday I will have everything in my hands to get the win.”
Track walks always useful ahead of weekend
When asked about how useful track walks are to drivers, “Yeah, for sure. We do it every time.”, Martins said in response. Despite his experience and familiarity of a track, Martins insisted its an important element of his weekend. The Frenchman explained how track walks allow him and ART to note details that change each year. Pointing out subtle difference that can influence performance, he emphasised that even learning one small detail can make an impactful difference.
Martins said: “Even if I have experience, I know the track, but definitely there are things that can change from year to year.”
“I think we also, for example, the last two corners, the left hand side with some dirty mud or whatever that we could maybe use or not. And definitely if it’s raining, it’s going to be quite interesting there. And then some other areas where we have some red kind of kerb or sausages [kerbs] that sometimes they are higher, smaller.”
“So you know where you can cut more, cut less. Definitely it’s these little details. Even if you can take one thing from a track walk, it’s still positive.”
Martins re-emphasized the importance of track walks to him as he has never skipped one before, as he finds it essential and useful.
“Then for the macro or the micro roughness, I think they have a lot more data than what we have, a lot more information. For sure, we deal with what we have. We look at it just mostly for the races, probably a bit for the tyre warmup, but definitely it’s important.”
“I never did, I think, a race weekend without the track walk. So for me, it’s useful.”
Kept it clean during Qualifying, no laps deleted
Martins credited his clean session to having all the right information before each lap. He explained that while wind and track layout can influence how hard a driver pushes, it was finding the fine balance between staying on the limit without overstepping was key.
“I think I got no lap times deleted today. So definitely, I think we did a good job regarding that. I think it just means also I got all the information I needed before every push lap.”
“Definitely, the wind can affect it, how much you push simply in the car. You know, in Turn 9, you can go quite wide. I think in [Free Practice], I was on the edge.”
“I broke something actually going over the kerbs. But yeah, definitely, we go in the limit, you know, in [Qualifying], some tracks we are most likely to get some more track limits. Some of them, for example, Monaco, you cannot do.”
“So it’s just different. You need to stay on the track, make the most out of it, know where you can make the difference or not, where it’s affecting the balance, if the wind is there or not. And then that’s it.”
Martins admitted that he has had both clean weekends and ones with trouble. However, the Frenchman ultimately believes that delivering at crucial moments like these is what truly defines a successful weekend.
“But I’ve got in the past some clean weekends where I’ve done zero track limits and others where I’ve done plenty of track limits. But at the end, normally, if you deliver at the right moment, it shouldn’t affect the weekend.”
Tyre degradation and management
When asked by Pit Debrief about tyre management, Martins believes there’s always a compromise, noting that all drivers take a different approach to managing their race.
“I think it’s always a compromise between pushing and saving. You know, sometimes you can save, but sometimes it’s just too much and then you end up not putting any energy in the tyres.
“So definitely, I think it’s quite mixed, you know, on the grid. Some drivers, they will do that. Some of them, they will just push more.”
Martins noted that any mistakes can quickly compromise the car’s performance, particularly stressing the front left tyre on soft compounds. Furthermore, he added that rear tyre degradation, especially from thermal wear, will also be a critical factor to manage.
“But in the end, I think we know exactly what can go wrong if you do some mistakes or you’re not really doing some clean driving. For sure, front left is going to suffer, especially on soft. Then the rear on the thermal side is going to be critical.”
Tyre management approach if mixed conditions hit
In continuation to Pit Debrief’s question, Martins explained a dry race will be extremely beneficial for adjustments headed into the Feature Race on Sunday. Reflecting on his past experiences at Silverstone, Martins noted how managing tyre wear and car balance is key.
“But I think if tomorrow we have a dry race, we will get some data, we will analyse what is good, what is bad, and then go into a Feature Race with some changes or whatever. But definitely it’s going to be challenging. I have been experiencing a bit of the two in Silverstone, where I think I remember I got a five seconds penalty in 2023 and I had no way, rather than just pushing 100% and it worked.”
“And then I think last year it didn’t. It’s just like you need to manage with the car you have, the balance that you have. It can go from one side to another if you have a normal steering car or an understeering car.”
This weekend, Martins’ goal is to drive clean and stay focused. Aiming to hold onto the lead from the start, the Frenchman knows it will be favourable to control the race if he wants to win.
“So it’s just being in the moment, trying to drive clean. If the team can help you, they can. And then going forward, for sure on my side, I’m starting on pole.”
“The aim is to keep the lead into lap one, and then you know you can have a big difference being in the lead.”
Maintaining high-standard consistency in Qualifying
The Frenchman acknowledged his strong Qualifying form, noting his consistency since the later stages of the 2024 season. Martins credited his success to a confident and measured approach that keeps him from overdriving while staying in control under pressure.
“Yeah, for sure. I have seen some good stats, you know, from end of 2024 until today. I’ve been, I think, always in the top three, just except Barcelona, sorry, but always in the top three, mostly top two.”
“And then now on pole, so for sure. I think I have, I just know how to put myself into the good mood, the good approach into qualifying, how to perform, but how not to overdrive the car and just be beyond the limits. Basically, I have this confidence that, you know, sometimes when you do good quality in a row, you’re just like, okay, I will just do the same again.”
Credits self-confidence and ART for Qualifying success
Currently P9 in the Drivers Standings, Martins heads into the second-half of the season fuelled with confidence that his consistency will continue. The Frenchman claims he’s reached a point where confidence comes naturally, with no doubts about his ability to deliver whilst crediting ART for the car they have been able to provide him.
Martins said: “And then you have this confidence, you have no doubt that it will, it will work again. And I think I’m exactly into that point. I just feel I’m always there.”
“I will go into Budapest with confidence. I know I will have the car also to do it, thanks to ART, who are giving me always the car to perform like this in [Qualifying]. And then, yeah, as I said, I think it’s a good 50% on the mental side that I just having the capability to put myself in the right window mentally.”
“And when you have one or two laps, sometimes it’s making the difference between one or another driver.”
Balancing setup for high and low speed corners
Unlike his Qualifying success, Martins’ weakness has been during races. Often Qualifying at the front of the grid, the Frenchman has often fell through the field losing his opportunity to convert that success into race results. He was quick to admit that their race performances haven’t matched their Qualifying strengths, pointing out there’s still room for improvement heading into the second-half of the year.
“If I speak about qualifying, I think it’s not a subject. I think we have always been always been there on every track. So definitely, I know they do the right thing.”
“They give me the right car, the right setup every time. Then in the race, if I’m realistic, we have not been that strong. Sometimes we have not raced.”
“So definitely it’s a bit tough, you know, to know what to improve. But I think on the races we have done, if I’m realistic, we are not as strong as [Qualifying]. So definitely there is some areas where we need to improve.”
Martins confident in race setup progress
Martins acknowledged that finding the right setup is always a compromise—especially with the new generation of cars. While tyre degradation adds to the challenge, Martins said the team is working on improvements and he is confident they’ve made progress since Austria for this weekend.
“We know where it is. But definitely the setup is always a compromise. I think this new car is definitely playing an even bigger role into that compromise you find in the setup between low speed, medium speed and high speed.”
“And then at the end, for sure, when you have big degradation or when you’re on a track where it’s most likely to have a bigger [degradation], then the effect is bigger. So you need to just try and get a good setup. Definitely we are working on it in the race, but I’m confident that this weekend it will be good.”
Experience will give Martins an upper hand
Compared to other drivers, Martins is one of several drivers with a decent amount of experience under his belt. Martins acknowledged having an advantage over Dunne thanks to experience, which he will definitely be useful in his favour. While he has prepared well for wet conditions, Martins noted the ever-changing weather radar, so they’ll have to wait and see.
“Yeah, so we have extra advantage compared to Alex [Dunne], but I think for sure we’ll use it. You know, you have experience, you use it, you look at data, you look at the race.”
“I mean, I did already what you need to do good in the rain to be good in terms of driving and in terms of car setup. Definitely, we need to see. It’s not for sure 100% that it will be raining, for example, tomorrow.”
While he isn’t too worried about Sunday, he feels the car will perform well in the rain. Having always been strong in wet conditions, Martins believes that confidence and a well-performing car are key to making a difference in tricky conditions.
“I didn’t look at Sunday. I’m not too worried. I don’t have any doubt that anyway it will work in the rain.”
“I really like, honestly, I’ve been always strong in any car I’ve driven on the wet. It comes down to confidence. You need a good car and then you just need to send it, you know, sometimes in some tricky conditions to make the difference.”
“And we’ll see. Not much to say.”
