Noel León's Budapest weekend in his words

23 July 2024

Noel León’s fight back in the second half of the season continues as the Van Amersfoort Racing driver achieved yet another podium finish, this time in the Budapest Feature Race.

The Mexican driver talks through each session with us, recapping another strong weekend as his goal of getting higher up the Drivers’ Championship table gathers steam.

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PRACTICE – P4

“It was really good to be honest. From the first push I was fast. The car felt good and obviously we didn't do so many laps because we were saving tyres for the weekend, but I was quite happy with my pace and the pace of my car. I was pretty happy with the balance of the car as well. We were thinking about things because there was a lot of sun, it was a lot hotter, so we needed to think about changes, but the team did a great job adapting to the hotter conditions.”

León made a good start to the weekend with a solid Free Practice

QUALIFYING - P4

“It's a shame that the last push I was not able to finish, but super happy with my second push and to be able to be in the top five. I think pole was possible. My second was lap was my fastest lap, I was just one-hundredth off P1, so it was possible. We knew it was going to be tight, all the others were going quite quick as well, but I felt really good in the car. So, it was possible to be on pole but super happy with my pace, so I will take it.”

SPRINT RACE – P12

“It was super difficult and also everybody was saving tyres because in the past the degradation was so big in Budapest. So, they were saving tyres and trying to push at the end but with these new compounds and temperatures we experienced, there was no degradation, it was a full push race, so it was super difficult to overtake.

"That made it quite tricky, so I think everybody was quite surprised with there being no deg. But I had no pace at the start, I had anti-stall so that made me lose a lot of positions. I was feeling comfortable with the car and in the Feature Race we can do something good.”

León made a fast start in the Feature Race and got ahead to third from fourth

FEATURE RACE - P2

“I’m super happy. I knew it was going to be all about the start, we did a great job, I put myself in a good position to make a place. I'm happy to go up to P2, but obviously it's not that way you want to be in P2, you want to finish it on the track, but I will take the points.

"Now I am really close to the top 10 of the Championship, that's my main objective for the season, to finish in the top 10. So, I am more than happy, and I can't wait for Spa.”

NEXT UP – SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS

“I am really looking forward to it. The team has had a great car there over the past few years. To be honest I wasn't expecting to be on the podium in Budapest looking at the results of the team last year. I was going to be happy coming out of the weekend with a top 10, so being able to get a podium, it's the great work of all the engineers and mechanics that gave me a great car. So, I am really confident for Spa, we have a great car, and I cannot wait for that.