Felipe Drugovich has said that getting a P3 result in the FIA Formula 2 Baku Feature Race, is extremely good for him, and the MP team, following low expectations this weekend.
“I think looking at yesterday’s race, and also at our expectations before the weekend, they weren’t that high I would say.”
Drugovich has been one of the most consistent drivers this season, and his MP car, the most reliable. The Brazilian is leading the Drivers’ Championship, and MP are topping the team standings. Therefore, his statements over the weekend has begged the question of why their expectations weren’t high.
“The way we didn’t expect something good from today is because of the style of the track. The team in Monaco and here, were nowhere last year. So looking at the data there was some bigger weak points in the car, which we managed to fix most of them. I took it a lot more conservative especially on starts and restarts.”
The MP driver qualified in fifth place, but uncharacteristically dropped down to eighth on the first lap:
“It got me a little bit angry at the start of the race when I fell back to P8. But it is what it is. Sometimes you lose positions just to be safe.”
Because of the measured performance over the weekend, today’s podium came as much of a surprise to Drugovich as it did the rest of us.
“The pace wasn’t quite there for the two races. Of course I could keep myself there, but I was really on the limit every time. I thought to myself I would just try to keep it there, and try to be really safe and focus on the points.”
If this weekend in Baku was about damage limitation, Drugovich most certainly exceeded expectations with his third place today:
“Getting a P3 here is extremely good for us.”
Image Credit: Formula Motorsport Limited
