ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins delivered a masterclass performance in the wet conditions of Monte Carlo, topping the timesheets throughout the Formula 2 Free Practice session. The Frenchman showcased his prowess on the challenging street circuit, setting a benchmark time of 1:39.237, over six-tenths faster than his nearest rival.
The session began under a cloud-covered sky with a wet track, immediately testing the drivers’ skills. Martins wasted no time establishing his dominance, initially setting a 1m56.110s before quickly improving to 1m40.531s within the first ten minutes. Despite a brief challenge from teammate Zak O’Sullivan and Trident’s Richard Verschoor, Martins remained unchallenged at the top.
Martins’ ART teammate, Zak O’Sullivan, initially took second place but faced competition from various drivers, including DAMS’ Juan Manuel Correa and AIX Racing’s Taylor Barnard. As the session progressed, Martins continued to lower his times, eventually setting the fastest lap of 1:39.237, reaffirming his top spot.
The tricky conditions led to multiple incidents, with Amaury Cordeel’s Hitech Pulse-Eight car stopping on track early in the session, causing a brief red flag. Another red flag was triggered when Franco Colapinto hit the wall at La Rascasse. Despite these interruptions, the session resumed, allowing drivers to push for better times.
Campos Racing’s Isack Hadjar impressed by getting within 0.498 seconds of Martins, setting a competitive 1m40.611s. However, as rain began to fall again after the restart, the track conditions deteriorated, preventing significant improvements from most of the field.
Martins expressed his satisfaction with the session, emphasising the importance of confidence and adapting to the challenging conditions. “It was a good session overall,” said Martins. “I built up confidence from Lap 1, knowing the conditions would be tricky. We aimed to get ready on all fronts, and it worked out well.”
Looking ahead to qualifying, Martins remained cautiously optimistic. “Starting like this gives us confidence, but it’s still Free Practice. We need to deliver tomorrow, but this is a positive start.”
Despite the challenging weather, the first day of Formula 2 practice in Monte Carlo highlighted Victor Martins’ exceptional skill and confidence. As the drivers prepare for what is expected to be a sunnier qualifying session, all eyes will be on Martins and ART Grand Prix to see if they can maintain their strong start and convert it into pole positions.
Stay tuned to InsideF2 for all the latest updates and coverage from the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
