The two Campos Racing drivers are determined to return to top positions after Lady Luck wasn’t on their side in Jeddah
Campos Racing and their drivers Isack Hadjar and Pepe Martí are facing the third round of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season at the semi-permanent Melbourne circuit, on the occasion of the Australian Grand Prix F1. After two races in the Middle East, the championship will travel to the furthest circuit on the calendar. Once again, Isack Hadjar and Pepe Martí will be behind the wheel of the Dallara F2 cars lined up by Campos Racing and bearing the colors of the Red Bull Junior Team.
After the four races held at the meetings in Sakhir and Jeddah, it was evident that Campos Racing drivers demonstrated excellent competitiveness, even though luck did not always translate into results.
Martí, in his debut in the category, is sixth in the drivers' standings with two podiums in Bahrain and a seventh place in Jeddah. The Spanish driver already knows the Australian circuit from last year when, starting at the back in both FIA Formula 3 races, he climbed up to the points by overtaking more than thirty rivals over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Hadjar experienced technical issues in both races at the Corniche Street Circuit that put his car in safe mode and forced him to retire on both occasions when he was fighting for the podium. However, the French driver has shown that he is capable of fighting for the podium in each and every race held so far, and his first podium is only a matter of time.
At the moment, Campos Racing occupies sixth place in the team standings with 31 points.
The Albert Park Circuit was resurfaced in 2022, improving the grip of a circuit that has always been delicate in this aspect. With its 5,303 meters, it is a challenge for the drivers, with numerous flowing corners and the close presence of walls, which always pose a threat and barely allow for mistakes. Additionally, it is not uncommon for the weather to be unpredictable, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of an already very technical circuit. As the sessions progress, the track also becomes faster as rubber is deposited on the asphalt. Furthermore, it is a circuit conducive to Campos Racing's interests since last year the team already secured its presence on the podium in its first appearance on the calendar.
Both free practice and qualifying sessions will take place on Thursday at 00:00 and 07:30 respectively. Friday’s Sprint race is scheduled at 04:15 with Saturday’s Feature race taking place at 01:35. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "We approach this weekend in Melbourne with great enthusiasm. On one hand, and after the work and analysis we have carried out since Jeddah, we hope that the issue that affected Isack is definitively resolved. On the other hand, it is a circuit where we performed at a high-level last year, in fact, finishing on the podium and being very competitive both in qualifying and race conditions. Pepe, in FIA F3, was undoubtedly one of the protagonists last year with his comebacks despite how difficult it is to overtake. We have two very competitive drivers with experience on this circuit, and our car has already shown that it is at an optimum level in terms of speed. Now is the time to focus and be able to translate all that potential into results."
Isack Hadjar (Campos Racing driver in FIA Formula 2): "It feels great to race on the other side of the world, really cool track and atmosphere! Last year was super promising and can’t wait to do much better this weekend!"
Pepe Martí (Campos Racing driver in FIA Formula 2): "I’m very excited to be back racing down under, it was a great track for me last year with the double comeback so I’m pumped to race in Albert Park again. We will try to make the most of the weekend and take as many points as possible in this amazing track and country!"
