Rafael Villagómez secured his second podium of the season after a solid FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race in Silverstone. 

Qualifying eighth on Friday put Villagómez on the second row for the reverse grid Sprint Race. 

Nikola Tsolov had a great start, passing Villagómez on the opening lap, but Ritomo Miyata struggled ahead, helping the Mexican driver to remain P3 on the road. 

Third place was a good result for VAR and Villagómez, he ended the race feeling he’d done all he could:

“The start was pretty good and then after that, the initial stage of the race we just seemed to struggle. 

“In the middle part we lost DRS and we just didn’t have the pace that [Miní and Tsolov] had and then it was difficult.

“The DRS was super powerful so to make that up is just tricky, because then I was just managing a little bit and then towards the end I was able to come back. 

“Of course, they were fighting so that made it a bit easier but I do believe that the pace at the end was a lot more competitive than the middle phase of the race.”

Despite a podium finish, Villagómez still feels the team have more work to do:

“Since Barcelona we’ve been struggling a lot with degradation in general. So we’re trying to figure out together with the team what’s going on and where we can improve and I think everyone’s in the same boat. Everyone wants to improve race by race.”

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