Victor Martins: Goal of winning the Formula 3 championship to reach Formula 2

Hello Victor, thank you for seeing me, how are you? and how do you feel at the beginning of this season?

Quite well, I would say, maybe not for the best as there are things that could be improved, but it’s going as we want it to. We are where we want to be at this stage of the season. It is all positive for the future, even though there is still potential when we see the results on the track. But everything is fine.

Can you explain to us a little bit about your background because you didn’t start your career as an athlete in karting?

« I started with gymnastics at 5 years old, at 10 years old I became the French champion in the Elite category. I started leisure karting at the age of 12. I discovered karting on vacation with a gymnastics friend. His father used to participate in the Porsche Cup when he was younger. While trying my first competitive karting on vacation in Portugal, my friend’s father told my parents to consider pursuing this discipline if possible. It took some time because in terms of budget it was complex. I started with leisure karting in 2013, then at the national level and in 2016 at the European and world level and I became the world champion in OKJ. This title allowed me to meet Frederic Vasseur who supported me in terms of management. In 2017, I joined the French FFSA 10-15 years old team and participated in the F4 French Championship where I finished as the best rookie and second overall. I lost the champion title due to a mistake during the last meeting (by colliding with Arthur Rougier who would win the championship and the €100,000). Nevertheless, I joined the Renault Sport Academy. Then it was Formula Renault in 2018 where I finished 5th. In 2019, I finished second in my second year of Formula Renault behind Oscar Piastri. I tried again in this championship in 2020 with ART Grand Prix where we won the championship. In 2021, I joined Formula 3 with MP Motorsport. It was an opportunity to showcase my potential. I finished fifth and as the best rookie. Although it didn’t allow me to move up to Formula 2 due to budgets. We preferred to do another year in F3 to win the championship with ART.

You started a little later than the others, but you had a great rise in your progress. How did you manage to “catch up” and even become one of the very best of your generation?

It is a combination of things, a lot of work, a lot of motivation, and determination. Since I was little, I dreamed of going to Formula 1. I will never give up until the doors close. I also had the right people behind me to put me in the right place. I was able to gain a lot of experience, it was an ideal journey where I could learn from my mistakes, especially by participating in a championship again. I made good progress on myself and on teamwork. I was able to learn from them, I needed to build a loyal team around me to have their support.

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“You were part of the Renault Sport Academy which you had to leave, but you rejoined the Alpine Academy in 2021, can you tell us about what happened? What does the academy bring to you?”

« I was in the Renault Sport Academy from 2018 until the end of 2019. In 2020, I didn’t have support even though we still had connections because I didn’t become champion the previous year, which was the goal. Renault couldn’t support me for a third season. They had chosen Oscar Piastri at that time. I knew that if I won the championship in 2020, I could rejoin the academy. I didn’t receive anything in terms of image and funding, but we always had good connections.

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You are in the French FFSA team, we saw you not too long ago on a training camp with your colleagues for a WRC 2 test, same as that, what does being in the French FFSA team bring you?

I have always had support from the federation, which is a very important thing for everyone and especially for me. I went to school there with the CNED training, I passed my baccalaureate with them. I lived in the boarding school in Le Mans. On the sports side, there is the image aspect because this is always beneficial. We also have the opportunity to do internships, we work on cohesion, we are followed on the mental/psychological side. This allows us to be well on a daily basis.

The serious business began with Formula 3 last year when we look at the standings, you finished as the top rookie, not far from Novalak and Vesti who were repeating the year and finished in third place. What conclusions do you draw from this season?

She has been a bit like all my rookie seasons. I was very strong at certain moments. In Spa in the rain, I always think I should have won it. Zandvoort in dry conditions as well. There were moments where I could have fought for podiums, even the title. I probably aimed too high. It went well for our first meeting in Barcelona, and then my first time in the rain with the F3 at Paul Ricard where I dominated the weekend. It was at that moment that we said to ourselves that we could have achieved something in the championship. We didn’t focus on the right things, I encountered difficulties with the car as well as my teammate (Caio Collet, also a member of the Alpine Academy). We missed out on our weekend in Budapest where we scored zero points. It was a very good rookie year and a valuable learning experience. I was able to show my potential and what I was capable of.

In 2022, the second year in Formula 3, a return to ART GP, with whom you won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2020, as if it were obvious?

« Yes! Especially for F3, I knew as soon as I found out that I had to repeat a year that it was going to happen with ART. I have a connection with this team and the people who work there. »

What made you repeat a year instead of going to Formula 2?

I didn’t have many offers, teams were well aware that I didn’t have a budget, so they were a bit more cautious. I could have had the opportunity to move up to MP Motorsport this season. But with Alpine and my entourage, we decided to stay in F3 with ART. My goal is to do only one season, and it’s better to do it with the best team like ART. I prefer to spend 2 years in F3 and 1 year in F2.

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Main objective is Formula 2 I suppose, is that something in the back of your mind? Or not at all, are you staying 100% focused on Formula 3?

« Honestly, it’s not, even if the goal is to win the title and given that the F3 season ends well before the F2 (The end of the F3 championship is at the beginning of September in Monza). Funny story (laughs), at the beginning of the season, I looked at the calendar to see if an opportunity could arise at the end of the year to participate in a Formula 2 meeting, like Théo and Clément did in previous years. But this will be decided at the end of the season if the objectives are met and especially if a spot is available. But I know that if I become champion, the F2 will follow. But for now, I remain focused on the F3, which will not be an easy year.

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« I am happy, because that’s the goal. Last year, I was good in races with reversed grids. But I struggled in the main race. I changed my approach, I focus more on the longer races, those that earn more points. »

Your best and worst memory in motorsport?

The best thing is my victory at Zandvoort last year, but there is also my title in Formula Renault. The worst thing will always be the title I missed in Abu Dhabi in Formula Renault, because it was so close. I missed my start and it was Oscar Piastri who won the race and the title.

What do you do between F3 meetings? What physical and mental preparation do you do?

« I do a lot of sports, and I also try to help my older brother with his karting team and his management company, Victory Lane. I go to many events to assist him because it’s a joint project and he has always supported my career. A little bit of simulator. A few internships with Alpine. I will be with them in Enstone for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. I will be in the OPS room with the team (operations room, which will be in constant contact with the team present at the Grand Prix).

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Do you have any pre-race rituals?

Yes, yes, I wear blue white red underwear (laughs). Something quite funny is going to happen with the FFSA about this (laughs). Otherwise, before the races, I warm up. I have my routine, a quick chat with the engineers. I always change in the same place, I work on my reaction time with my music in my ears. It’s always the same thing.