Clément Novalak: “The plan is to go to Formula 2”

Clément, you achieved two podiums and took 3rd place in the F3 at the best time last weekend. On an accounting level, this round of Zandvoort did you a lot of good… 

You had to have a superb weekend at least once anyway. It took a while... (laughs) All joking aside, it was a good weekend, yes. We will especially have to perform in Sochi (September 24-26) now. The championship is tight in the fight for the podium. Above all, I would like us to manage to win the teams championship, because Trident really gave us a good car all season. And since Prema has not maximized the points this year, there is a real window to go for the title. 

With the exception of the Austrian round, you scored points in all races, displaying remarkable consistency. On the other hand, before the previous weekend in Zandvoort, you had only been on one podium. How do you analyze your season? 

I think I showed good things. Apart from Austria, I have been very consistent in my results. Regarding the low number of podiums, it's quite simple: by qualifying on the 3rd row all the time, I'm in a bit of a blind spot. That is to say that I start far from the top 3 in race 1. I often gain places in C1 and that leads me to start C2 again far from the top 3. It is therefore difficult to succeed in getting on the podium frequently. And we really understood it this weekend: when you are P7 or P8 in C1 with the reverse grid, you score more points by allowing yourself to be overtaken four times and therefore starting in the top 3 for C2 with the grid. reversed, only remaining 7th. 

Clément Novalak had his best weekend in the Netherlands. © Diederik van der Laan / Dutch Photo Agency / DPPI

Besides, we saw you voluntarily lose places at Zandvoort in C1, which allowed you to start at the front of the line in C2. Concretely, how did you manage to let yourself be overtaken without arousing suspicion?

I put a little strategy in place (laughs). I think I played it tactically well. In fact, I deliberately hit the limiter at the exit of the last corner to have a bad straight line, which allowed the guys behind me to pass me (smile). Today, I tell myself that I should have done this a little more often this year. It would be more interesting if the format was the following: you take 10 pts instead of 15 in the event of a victory, this would allow the driver who finishes 5th twice to score as many points as the driver who wins a race.

What will be your goal in Sochi at the end of September?

I don't really have a set goal. From a team point of view, it will be important to win the championship. On a personal level, I want to ensure the last three races, and try to do the maximum in qualifying to try to keep this 3rd place (Martins and Vesti are only 5 points behind him). Everything will depend on whether Vesti and Martins qualify well or not. Everything will probably be decided at that moment. I would also like to try to get Doohan (2nd, 28 pts ahead, editor’s note) absolutely. But to do that, I would have to do the weekend he did at Spa with two victories. Afterwards, I especially want to perform, the rest will come by itself. 3rd place would be nice in any case. And why not also get this first victory in F3… 

DRIVERS' STANDINGS 📊@hauger_dennis extends his championship lead as we verge closer to the final round of racing! 👏#DutchGP 🇳🇱 #F3 pic.twitter.com/vee3GiC29N

- Formula 3 (@ Formula3) September 5, 2021

With Victor Martins, you signed a 100% French double in C2 at Zandvoort. It seems like you and Victor are becoming good friends!

Well yeah, it started by discussing the series Prison Break together (laughs). More seriously, we were both on doping tests at the same time after Barcelona. We ended up having to pee in a cup at the same time (laughs). In Spa too. We talked quite a bit, we had a laugh with Caio Collet too. He's a good guy, it shows. I get on well with. We didn't really know each other before. But his personality speaks for itself, especially after the incident in Race 3 at Zandvoort (Martins hit David Schumacher). There are few guys on the grid who, after hitting someone, would have apologized directly on the radio, and would go see David in the paddock to apologize. He is fast, but he also has great values.

For next year, do you know what your program will be? 

The plan is to go to Formula 2, clearly. We've been talking with some teams for a while. The feedback is positive. I had good enough performances to attract the teams in which I saw myself spending one or two seasons in F2. Afterwards, I want to do the job like Piastres et Pourchaire, from the first year. It's developing as it should for me. I hope to see things more clearly after Sochi.

The goal is always to F1 ?

Yes of course, after that I am open to everything. The Hypercar will get bigger. The teams which start from Formula E, it is probably to go in a Hypercar. It will grow and become the Le Mans from the 70s, at the time when everyone was watching because there wasn't just one manufacturer in the premier category. So obviously, that interests me.