Mari Boya aiming for clean Qualifying after session-topping pace

19 July 2024

It was the perfect start to the Budapest race weekend for Campos Racing and Mari Boya. The Spaniard put himself top of the times in the opening session of the weekend, setting a 1:34.236 to lead the field.

After stepping out of the car, Boya reflected on the positive start to his weekend and believes with a clean execution in Qualifying, he would be vying to repeat the performance when it counts most.

“I’ve always said that if I don’t have any issues on the car or anything happens outside of our control, we are at the front and we always show this. It’s a shame that I’ve been outside the top 20 in the last two Qualifying sessions.

“I think when luck is not on your side, it is what it is. It’s been a hard year for me because I feel we have all we need to fight for everything, but racing is like this.

“We learn from everything and when we have the opportunity to be at the front, we have to take it and I think here, we have a good chance.

“To be honest in the last run, we had many issues, but everything has been solved now. But the most important session of the weekend is coming up, so we can still work and improve things a bit more, but we will give it everything, and the feeling is good.”

With temperatures expected to continue climbing before the F3 drivers are back out on track for Qualifying, Boya predicts that it will be a session all about adaptability.

Not only will the drivers be battling the heat, but with the Hungaroring’ s relatively short and narrow layout, track position is even more crucial than usual.

Boya believes that with a clean session, he will be contending for the top positions in Qualifying

The Campos driver says he expects to be kept busy even when he’s not on a flying lap.

“In Qualifying we won’t have many laps so that process will have to be very quick. I also think traffic management will be super important because it’s a short track, so that will make it an interesting session for sure.

“I only pushed on one lap in Practice, so you have to get a feeling in the first two corners and then just react to what you feel for the rest of the track.

“We know that the tyre deg will be really high especially when we are the first on track. So, from the beginning to the very end of the Practice, the track was getting quicker.

“Let’s see now after F2, F1 and when we go out again, the temperature will be higher, but the track will also be cleaner, so it will be an interesting session for sure.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the weekend, tyre degradation is the differential according to Boya, with the Sprint Race potentially offering insight into how best to approach things in the Feature.

Boya says he will be aiming to start Sunday’s event from the front, but that whatever happens, those that protect the tyres most will benefit by the chequered flag in both races.

“In the races, the deg of the tyre will make a big difference so let’s see how it goes. But 100% Qualifying will be important. I want to start at the front as always on Sunday, that’s the best thing.

“In the Sprint Race we will learn a lot about the deg and how the tyres will be, but the first focus is on Qualifying, then the races.”