Théo Pourchaire and Victor Martins in a constructive approach despite the rivalry to access Formula 1
On the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix, the two French drivers from ART GP provided us with very interesting details about their internal relationship and their approach to bringing a constructive relationship to the F2 team in order to achieve the best possible result. Exclusive to Motors Inside.
Théo Pourchaire is starting his 3rd full season in F2, once again with ART Grand Prix, holding the vice-champion title. Sauber’s protégé failed in his quest for the championship last year, beaten by Felipe Drugovic. However, Théo Pourchaire has never lost to a teammate over a full F2 season. This year, he is not paired with just anyone, as the F3 champion, Victor Martins, is joining him at ART Grand Prix for the 2023 F2 season.
As a reminder, last season, Victor Martins emerged victorious in F3, thus becoming the champion of the category. Supported by the Alpine Driver Academy, he replaced Vesti, who went to Prema. As a result, the French driver became teammates with Théo Pourchaire, a first for both men in single-seaters.
Currently in the 2023 season, Théo Pourchaire is leading the driver’s standings with 65 points while the F2 rookie is in 15th place with 17 points after some on-track collisions.
The two ART Grand Prix drivers have known each other for a long time. In 2014, they were karting together.
In an interview with Motors Inside, Théo Pourchaire declares that it is a plus to have a teammate that he knows well: “There are many positives, especially when it comes to performance within the team. We are French and communication happens much more easily, everyone speaks French so it’s faster and simpler.”
« We all know each other very well, even in the team. Victor and I have been at ART for a while. We’ve known each other since karting in 2014, so we’ve been in the same categories for a few years. » explains the driver from Grasse, born not far from the Monaco circuit.
« Apart from single-seater where he went a little before me and then I went straight to F3. We end up in Formula 2 knowing each other very well, so it’s very beneficial for the team. »
Be united for the team.
When two drivers from the same team have the means to fight for the championship title, it can lead to tensions or rivalries. In the case of Pourchaire and Martins, this is not the case.
I don’t think there is a big rivalry, we try to be the best possible, to help the team to have the best car so we give everything on the track. Of course, by driving in F2, we all want to access F1 and achieve the best results. Victor and I help each other a lot, we do the briefings together.
To win, you need to have two good drivers who make the most of the car and have better performance, and above all, hope to compete for victory and win both trophies, whether for the driver or the constructor. Just communication alone helps a lot, it’s probably a detail, but it’s super important.
No big rivalry between the two drivers
Victor Martins confirms that this relationship is very good in our microphones. When I started in karting, we were a bit against each other. But looking back, we were always against each other in my early national races. We knew each other, but we were competitors. We were trying to fight against each other and against other drivers. We didn’t necessarily have a relationship. But everything was going well, explains Victor Martins.
I remember that from a very young age, it pushed me to be better and work in order to beat him and the others.
The two men have not gone through the same stages. Apart from karting, they have never been together during the single-seater championships. Victor Martins started in F4 in 2016, well before Théo Pourchaire, and then went through Formula Renault before entering F3 in 2021. Théo Pourchaire only started in F4 in 2019 but was able to quickly progress to F3 in 2020 and then make it to F2 the following year. Therefore, this is the first year they find themselves on the track together, speaking French in a French team, and working towards a seat in F1.
We have never had any problems except for the first time when we ended up on the track and collided during trials. There has never been any problem, but there has always been this rivalry where we want to be better than the other.
« We have never driven together or competed against each other in single-seaters. There has always been a category gap, when I was in F4, he was in his last year of karting. When I moved up to Formula Renault, he had just switched to F4. I stayed in Formula Renault and he went straight to F3. We never really had any moments where we competed against each other. This year, it’s a reunion. It’s nice because we know each other well, and we have a lot of respect for each other’s driving skills. »
Interviews conducted with Gabin Lécrigny and Romain Mathon.
