#2 Jehan Daruvala (IND – Prema Dallara Mecachrome)
FIA F2 Championship position: 4th – 80 points – after 16 of 28 races#1 Dennis Hauger (NOR – Prema Dallara Mecachrome)
FIA F2 Championship position: 7th – 67 points – after 16 of 28 races#5 Liam Lawson (NZL – Carlin Dallara Mecachrome)
FIA F2 Championship position: 10th – 60 points – after 16 of 28 races
#17 Ayumu Iwasa (JAP – DAMS Dallara Mecachrome)
FIA F2 Championship position: 13th – 44 points – after 16 of 28 races
The verdant hills of the Red Bull Ring are swapped for the desiccated flat expanse of Paul Ricard for races 17 and 18 of the F2 championship. Red Bull Juniors Ayumu Iwasa, Liam Lawson, Dennis Hauger and Jehan Daruvala all wanted more from the Austrian round and are looking for podiums in France.
Daruvala to take back the podium
“I really like Paul Ricard,” enthuses the 23-year-old Indian. “It’s a track that I have had a lot of success at. Back in 2019 was the last time I was there and I won the Feature Race in F3 so I have good memories and am really looking forward to it.”
“My favourite sector is probably Sector 3 which has a long, high speed, corner, Turn 11. In general it’s a difficult sector where the driver can make a big difference.”
“The expectation this weekend is obviously to qualify well and race at the front. We’ve got to take the disappointment of last weekend, convert that into good points this weekend and make up for what we lost at the Red Bull Ring.”
Hauger looking for his winning ways
“It’s a cool track,” states the 19-year-old Norwegian. “Quite a few different sections that are important and especially the last sector is very demanding for a qualifying lap.”
“I did very much enjoy racing there in F3 last year.”
“It’s been a tough few rounds and I want to work harder going forward to make sure I do everything I can to bounce back. Hopefully we can do that this weekend.”
Lawson wants happy holidays
“It’s a unique circuit, from the helicopter view it’s a cool looking place. Quite long, very very technical,” explains the 20-year-old New Zealander.
“In Qualifying it will be quite difficult to put in the perfect lap. It’s quite an exciting track to drive, it will be interesting to see what they do with track limits this weekend as well.”
“I think that the degradation in the past has been reasonably high and especially with the temperatures we are looking at having, it’s going to be quite warm, so that will be a factor.”
“Two weekends now before the break, it will be nice to go into that break with two solid weekends under our belt.”
Iwasa knows it well
“I’m looking forward to going back to Paul Ricard again this year. I raced last year in F3 and it was quite a good weekend for me,” recalls the 20-year-old Japanese. “I also drove the circuit quite a lot in French F4 two years ago so I know it well.”
“It is really really difficult to go quick, for example, Turn 1, 2 and the chicane, it is very difficult to find the balance, pushing entry or a good exit. That is just one example but there are a lot of difficult sections.”
“There are long straights so I think that overtaking will be possible. My favourite sector is Sector 3 but also Sector 1 is quite good because it is technical, especially from Turn 3 but it is very difficult to overtake there.”
“It is quite a nice track for me, I had a good Qualifying last year, not perfect but not too bad. I was fighting for victory in Race 1 last year and it was quite a good weekend. Hopefully it will be the same this year. I will do my best to use my experience, qualify well again and put it all together to get victory.”
Paul Ricard weekend schedule – all times CEST
Friday 22nd July
11:35 – Practice (45 minutes)
18:30 – Qualifying (30 minutes)
Saturday 23rd July
18:00 – Sprint Race (21 Laps or 45 Mins +1 lap)
Sunday 24th July
09:35 – Feature Race (30 Laps or 60 Mins +1 lap) |
