Hungaroring through the eyes of the top 3 drivers

Nikita Mazepin ART Grand Prix’s rookie driver arrived from FIA Formula 3 championship and opened the season with a victory in Barcelona. The Russian rookie repeated this achievement and scored a lights-to-flag victory in Hungary after taking first place at the start. “This win feels really amazing.” started Nikita “When I first came to the championship and won in Barcelona that was different. I did not feel that victory and it was difficult during the whole race. Now in this one I felt it from the start to finish.” 
 

Of course racing in these conditions was not easy for anyone. Rain continuously stopped and started again in the afternoon. Although the Formula 2 race dried most the track, there was still some water left on the lines. “I expected a difficult race because of the rain just before race. I was starting from the inside which is the worse so I expected for a very difficult start and no opportunities to overtake but then it went very well for me.” Hungaroring is said to be extremely technical and very challenging for the tyres. However Nikita Mazepin did not experience high degradation during the free practice and qualifying, on the race this changed. “For the first time we had a surprisingly high degradation. It made me a little bit nervous because I have not been in this situation before but it was interesting to manage it. It was the same for everyone and I think that whatever I did was right and I am just happy that it went my way an I won the race. 

During the qualifying Nikita had been involved in a collision which damaged the car. “Of course I am always really trying to get pole position” started Nikita about the qualifying. “However I always try not to regret the past in life. You can not change it so I never think about it. It might could have been there this morning but it was not. We are here for racing and I am happy it went in the way I wanted.” 

Campos Racing’s Italian Leonardo Pulcini did an amazing job during the whole weekend and took second place right after the start. “I did not do a very good start”. Started Leonardo about his race. “Luckily I could pass Anthoine but it was a very tricky race.” As the race winner said everyone was struggling with tyre degradation. Leonardo had another concern. “I was struggling a lot with my front-left tyre on the last ten laps. In the end I thought I would have a puncture. All the other ones especially the rears were a 100 percent there so I could push hard in the left corners.” Altogether Leonardo scored 18 points with his second place which is very important for the team. “I am happy for the team, for the championship. Could have been a more fun race. Nikita made an amazing job with tyre management. Congratulations.”

The poleman Anthoine Hubert had a bad start letting his lead out of the hands in the first moment. “I had a bad start I don’t know why I had a lot of wheel spin but there is no excuse. We need to work hard and understand why. I was P3 after the start but from there I could not do anything. There was no DRS so it was difficult to overtake” After pole position the Frenchman was understandably disappointed “I sometimes finish where I start but I am not used to losing positions on a race. From pole position you have to win, it is not a question.” Despite this Anthoine still leads the championship “I think race by race, trying to score as many points as possible. I am disappointed but it is not that bad. We will work hard. Well done Nikita and Leo!” Closed Anthoine Hubert.