Victor Martins: “Win ​​races to claim the title”

Victor, happy to be back in the family Alpine ?

Yes, I'm very happy to be back. I'm happy to be back with the whole academy, because it's a bit like a family.

A year ago, you just lost your place in the Academy. We imagine that you are even happier to have her back?

It's clear. I knew I had to win the Formula title Renault to be able to return to the academy. It was a big blow last year to learn that I wasn't continuing with Renault, but I moved on and focused on my goal of winning the championship.

What do you expect fromAlpine Academy?

To be able to take advantage of the superb opportunities made available to us to progress. We are lucky to have a lot of support when it comes to preparation. Great opportunities will be given to those who perform the best. We're going to have to make all of this happen. I also hope to be able to meet Fernando Alonso, knowing that I already know Esteban Ocon. I hope to be fully immersed in the team's project. Why not follow a race weekend F1 with the engineers. I'm hungry to learn.

You won Formula Renault with ART Grand Prix last year. We could have imagined seeing you continue the adventure with them in F3...

It’s true that we could have imagined, yes. It was a long wait to find out who I was going to ride with but I've experienced that before. With ART, the opportunity just didn’t present itself. Obviously, I'm disappointed because when you win a title with such a prestigious team, you obviously want to continue with them. But at the same time, I believe deeply in the MP Motorsport project. My goal remains unchanged: to become Formula 1 world champion one day. I will give myself the best chance to perform in F3 with MP. And I'm sure we will be able to win races and claim the title.

You will have Caio Collet, your runner-up in Formula Renault Eurocup, as a teammate. Is this good news or bad news?

I sincerely think that this is something very positive and this is what makes the MP project even stronger. Mia Sharizman even thinks that the project is feasible precisely because Caio and I are partners. I'm happy to team up with him, I know he's a great driver. I fought with him for a big part of last season. We've known each other for a long time and we get along very well. The first approach we must have is to collaborate to help the team and help it progress. Afterwards, it's clear that I want to beat him because we are directly compared to his teammate. I have learned in the past to work with other drivers so I am sure I will handle it well.

MP Motorsport is not really a top team in F3. Are you going to lower your goals?

No not at all. First of all, I will be a rookie so I will have things to learn. And above all, MP will have the opportunity to make changes in his organization that were not possible before when the F2 and F3 took place at the same time. I am happy to be able to work with very competent people. We will give the best of ourselves to get there.

What will be the key to playing up front this year?

Regularity obviously, but above all my ability to manage several parameters. Tire management during racing, in particular, knowing that in Formula Renault, I was used to little degradation. The competitiveness of the championship will also be an important aspect, with 30 drivers and long races. Then there will be reverse grids, you will have to be good at overtaking, have a good pace in the race, know how to defend and attack. I'll have to gain experience on this.