Heading into the 2025 F2 Hungarian GP weekend, ART Grand Prix’s Ritomo Miyata spoke to numerous media outlets, including Pit Debrief. The Japanese driver took the time to reflect on the positive results he has seen of recent, alongside his great results at the 2024 Hungarian GP.
Miyata acknowledged the challenges brought by not only the Hungaroring, but the wet conditions threatening to affect the F2 weekend. Teamed up with veteran Victor Martins, Miyata reflects on what he has learnt during this new partnership.
After a career best result of P2 in the Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, Miyata looks to continue on that high, and secure strong results again in Hungary.
Riding the high of good results at Spa-Francorchamps
Last weekend in Spa-Francorchamps, Miyata had what he explains to be a “very amazing” weekend. After securing his highest Qualifying result of a P2, he went on to bring home P2 silverware in the Feature Race, after Alex Dunne and Arvid Lindblad were stripped of their respective P1 and P2, promoting the Japanese driver. This was his best F2 finish.
Since F2’s visit to the Red Bull Ring at the end of June, Miyata has had an increase in confidence. Unfortunately the Red Bull Ring brought an average weekend, with the Sprint and Feature Races seeing results of P8 and a DNF respectively. Silverstone was much the same, with his best result coming in the Feature Race with a less than ideal P15.
“Yeah, last weekend Spa was very amazing weekend. You know, it was good results, Quali and both races. For sure I had a mistake, but you know, just I learned a lot. Yeah, yes, I have a confidence since Silverstone or Red Bull Ring, but unfortunately that race is, well, we had an issue, so just unlucky.
“So if we have a kind of normal, nothing happened, we have maybe going well, I think. That’s why in Spa, very good weekend. So I hope keep like this in the future, even this weekend.”
Miyata’s confidence for the remaining portion of the season
When asked about his confidence heading into the rest of the season, Miyata reflected on the experience he has gained since last year. He entered the 2024 season with no European racing experience. Undertaking his first F2 season with Rodin Motorsport, he acknowledged just how different this season is to last.
With Formula 2 cars being quite different to the machinery he was used to in Japan, challenges arose with issues and lack of performance. Racing at European circuits last year heightened these challenges. Despite the differences between Formula 2 and Super Formula, Miyata continues to put his best foot forward in terms of performance.
Finally the hard work has begun to pay off, with impressive results beginning to appear. This is something the 25-year-old hopes to see for the remainder of the season.
“Yeah, to be honest, you know, last year I didn’t have any experience in Europe, even F2, so it was quite tough. But this season I have experience from last year, for sure, different team, because last year I was driving with Rodin, this season I’m driving with ART. So even same car, I mean, F2, same tyre brands, the Pirelli, same engine, Megachrome, but even switch to different team, completely different car balance, also everything.
“So yeah, the before start, I told you many happened in the race and the issue or lack of performance, but especially coming to Europe circuit, we gain confidence, because we always try to improve as much as possible. And then in Spa, finally we can show good performance. From my side, always I try to show my best performance, because I came from Japan and I came from the winning Super Formula Championship.
“So of course, it’s quite different compared to F2 and Super Formula, but you know, I always try to my best performance as much as possible. So finally, we could show good performance. I hope we keep like this in the future.”
The challenges of the Hungaroring
Historically, the tight and twisty layout of the Hungaroring is considered to be largely challenging track. With limited overtaking opportunities, naturally Qualifying becomes even more important. In the past years, Safety Cars have been all but promised, and the races have been up and down for drivers. Miyata believes this brings excitement for fans. The Japanese driver acknowledges the importance of Sector 2, stating he believes this to be the most crucial sector.
“Coming to Hungaroring, I would say it looks like an old track, and also a very technical track. It’s quite different compared to Spa, you know. And I think here the most important sector is Sector 2, I think. Also, here are many corners, and also very technical.
“So let’s see how it’s going in the FP and Quali tomorrow. And every race weekend, always, you know, make an overtake on the track. In the last year, you know, it was many safety cars that always up and down the drivers. So I think motorsport fans really enjoy it. So hopefully, yeah, we can enjoy the track.”
The power held by tyre choice
With multiple valid tyre compounds on offer, it is always a mix of what tyres drivers will take. Miyata emphasises the effect this had on lap times. With medium and soft tyres on offer this year, compared to hard and soft previously, he believes the gap will be smaller.
The 25-year-old acknowledges that the time difference between Free Practice and Qualifying will be large. Despite this, he believes most, if not all drivers will take medium tyres in the Sprint Race, and this will make conditions quite similar throughout the field.
DRS trains play a huge role in overtaking at many circuits, and crucially at the Hungaroring. Without experience with this, Miyata finds it hard to predict how the races will play out, but remains hopeful that Turns 1 and 3 will hold overtaking opportunities.
“I don’t know if this is how it’s going. Because last year, we have tyre compounds was hard and soft. So quite different. For example, last year’s Sprint Race was many drivers mix. A few drivers took hard tyres and half drivers took soft. And a very different lap time pace.
“But this season will be medium and soft. Looks very small, I think, time difference. For sure, FP to Quali lap time was big difference. But I think in the [Sprint] Race, maybe all drivers take medium. That means maybe tyre degradation will be very similar.
“And also, you know, everyone’s same compounds will be looks like DRS train maybe. But I don’t have experience that. So that’s why very difficult to answer. But hopefully, we have overtake chance in the T1 and T3 as well, kind of after DRS Zone.”
Readiness for the Hungaroring after a positive visit in 2024
In Round 9 of the 2024 F2 Championship, Miyata made his first visit to the Hungaroring. Despite this, his performance was strong. Despite qualifying P18, Miyata turned his weekend around in the Sprint and Feature Race, coming home in P12 and P8 respectively. This saw him bringing home an extra four points.
“Yeah, it’s very exciting. You know, last year, I made a good race, and you know, also, I had experience this season, so last year, I don’t have any experience here. I always started with, where is the toilet? I never visit here. So yeah, this season, this weekend, very excited. Even last week, last weekend, we have a good result, so yeah, very excited.”
Focusing through wet racing conditions
With threatening to fall throughout the Feature Race on Sunday, Miyata isn’t too bothered whether the rain appears or not. Of course, drivers would ideally like clear, dry conditions, but even with the rain, Miyata believes the grid will cope. After downpours in Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps without too much trouble, the drivers have proved their wet running abilities.
The 25-year-old is yet to race the Hungaroring in wet conditions, and finds it hard to predict how he will go.
“Yeah, for me, yeah, if Sunday or weekend we have rain, it’s a bit, you know, not great, because we always want to feel good weather. Yeah, I think even if the race will be rain, it’s okay. Because Silverstone and Spa, we didn’t have any big accidents and always going to Silverstone, just for me, I never drove a wet condition Hungaroring before. So just for me, it’s very difficult to time.”
Influence from his ART Grand Prix teammate, Victor Martins
With the 2025 season being only his second in Formula 2, Ritomo Miyata is lucky to have seasoned veteran Victor Martins as his teammate. When asked about the influence Martins has had on Miyata, the Japanese driver praised the success of the Frenchman this season. He goes on to acknowledge that due to the long term partnership between Martins and ART Grand Prix, it is much easier to tailor a car towards him.
Without any tests other than Bahrain and Barcelona, Miyata finds it tricky to learn. Due to this, he finds his knowledge and improvement within Victor Martins. He goes further to claim his Belgian success is thanks to the support of Martins.
“Yeah, you know, Victor was doing an amazing job in the Quali. I mean, both Quali and race, especially Quali, he has a good, like, so fast, and for sure, I learn from him. But, you know, also, he drove with ART a long time, so quite soon, how to make a good car for him, but for me, first year, it’s quite difficult to understand what’s the preferred car and understand, you know.
“Especially F2, really difficult to make that, because we don’t have any tests, only, like, Bahrain and Barcelona before the start of the season, but again, we always try to improve as much as possible, and that’s why in Spa, I finished P2, and yeah, and also, I learn from him.”
The remaining fight for the Championship
With just four rounds left after this weekend, time is running out to climb the Championship Standings. Sitting in just P14, every point and strong result counts for Miyata. Accumulating only 25 points, he sits 100 points behind Championship leader, Leonardo Fornaroli.
“Yeah, I would say same as usual. Just focus and make good results. That’s it. Simple.”
