Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Victor Martins reckons ART Grand Prix team-mate Theo Pourchaire was “too optimistic” in his failed overtaking attempt on him during Formula 2’s feature race at the Hungaroring.
The Alpine junior exited the pitlane right ahead of points leader Frederik Vesti after his mandatory pitstop. On cold tyres he could not hold the Prema driver back, and Pourchaire also tried to take advantage of the situation.
The Sauber junior got alongside Martins after turn two but backed out of making a move into turn three, then got alongside him again heading to turn four. Pourchaire tried going around the outside of Martins but ended up going off-track, picking up marbles on his tyres and dropping behind Hitech GP’s Isack Hadjar before the end of the lap.
“Theo tried to go on the inside of turn three, which was a bit too much optimistic, and then we were arriving side-by-side into turn four, but I just kept the line. I need to review [the action] again. Honestly, I don’t know what really happened but I focused ahead and on myself. I will look with the team and with him if there is something to discuss,” Martins told media including Formula Scout post-race.
He denied Pourchaire had been too aggressive, but admitted the manoeuvre might have been risky considering Pourchaire’s title-challenging position.
“I would say no [it was not too aggressive] in terms of like just regarding the race, but if you take the championship and where he is, I would say yes. Because that kind of move at that moment of the race is, for me, a bit too optimistic.
“In the end we didn’t touch each other, we tried to stay clean. I’m sure he ran a bit out of turn four, really wide, because he didn’t want to touch with me. Maybe he saw an opportunity to get a podium, to get closer to Fred.”
Recent results have brought Martins up to fourth in the standings, 48 points behind Vesti. He hopes to become a title contender, but if that is not possible he would be open to help Pourchaire, who is 11 points off the top.
“He has his own [goal], I have mine, and honestly we try to help each other,” Martins stated. “Sometimes you can see some aggressiveness on the track, but honestly, if you come to the track, it’s another thing. Every time we laugh, we help each other, we work a lot together at the sim, between sessions. It’s a really good atmosphere there.
“If we become ahead of Prema in the next few rounds, if we keep going what we are doing now, and Theo is fighting with Fred for the championship, for sure if I can help, I will. But I will say I have also my personal goal in the end. I’m not that far in the championship, I’m still there, I’m coming back. And if I keep going what I’m doing now, honestly I will be at some point in the fight.”