Motorsport: Let’s discuss your present function at Williams. Are you able to clarify what impression you may have on the automobile?
Victor Martins: “I can have an effect on the automobile, however is it direct? Not essentially, I’d say, as a result of there are a lot of individuals within the workforce, many departments, many issues to enhance, to analyse – so ‘direct’, I’d say no.
“Nevertheless, participating in growth, sure – be it primarily on the simulator, testing power administration on the upcoming observe earlier than each weekend, getting ready [for] Alex’s and Carlos’ arrivals in order that they’ll work on different issues that could be extra essential to them.
“I’m not going to have a direct impression on the likes of fixing a suspension, as a result of I haven’t examined the automobile in actual life to this present day, however I’m going to hurry up that growth, I’m going to try to use my expertise and suggestions for them to have probably the most correct and very best info.
“Then, I attempt to have fairly a detailed relationship with Carlos [Sainz] and Alex [Albon] to grasp the areas we have to work on for the automobile – what’s good and never good, what we have to enhance, what to give attention to.
“It’s essential for me to spend time right here [trackside in Belgium] to then return to the manufacturing facility and provides good suggestions, give attention to the precise issues for this yr’s FW48. But it surely’s additionally good for my profession to continue to learn from an F1 workforce, preserve my foot within the door as a reserve at a number of races, so I’m taking it positively.”
Pictured in 2025, Martins attended the Belgian GP as Williams’ reserve driver
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Photographs
MS: Doesn’t it make issues trickier to be within the simulator with out having pushed the precise automobile?
VM: “It does. However we all know how tough it’s to get precise mileage within the automobile – you don’t get many FP1 alternatives, there isn’t a lot time, these aren’t simple issues to get as a driver. So sure, I’d wish to, I need to say I push on daily basis and hope on daily basis for such alternatives. However I nonetheless have sufficient suggestions and expertise to take a look at and take heed to what occurs on the automobile out on observe; reproduce it on the simulator, really feel it, perceive it and know the place to go from there.
“In fact, if tomorrow I have been to have a possibility to drive it, it could be invaluable for the entire growth of the simulator, of the automobile, of the correlation – for just about everybody truly, all departments.”
MS: Has the workforce given you a heads-up about doubtlessly taking the wheel someday this yr?
VM: “For now, there aren’t any FP1 plans. I’ve acquired a number of TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] days, I’ve already had a day at Silverstone earlier this yr, however not with this automobile. For now, there’s nothing deliberate for me, however once more, issues can change in F1; you should not rush or be determined, you simply have to do the job when wanted, be skilled, give the precise suggestions, have the precise relationship, then perhaps they’ll give me the automobile someday this yr.”
Martins took half in his first (and to this point solely) FP1 session finally yr’s Spanish GP
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Photographs
MS: You’re additionally creating a simulator particularly for the younger driver academy. How is it developed in comparison with an everyday simulator?
VM: “It’s truly fairly comparable, as a result of within the simulator I’m doing for this yr’s FW48, we try to replicate the automobile’s motion, its issues, its strengths and weaknesses, and its feeling, in an effort to develop it.
“For the simulator for younger driver growth, we attempt to get as shut as doable to how a automobile behaves on observe, so it naturally is comparable. However we’ll try to work on fashions from feeder sequence – F3, F2 – to try to reproduce all the things they may have in junior classes. However there are similarities, it’s the identical in the long run.
“It’s simply as much as me to convey my F2/F3 expertise concerning Pirelli tyres, the automobile, the engines, the way it went, how they behaved – simply to copy them and reproduce them.”
MS: Ultimately, is it primarily about having two simulators that can be utilized concurrently?
VM: “Sure. Concurrently, not on the weekend, however for example on the manufacturing facility on a Tuesday, there’s the simulator that works on the FW48’s growth year-round, and some metres away, a simulator that runs to assist younger drivers.
“In order that’s the aim, however it’s not the identical goal in any respect, nor the identical programme or the identical mission, truly. One is for F1 and the opposite is for the academy’s younger drivers, so these are two very various things, however sure, they’ll run on the similar time.”
Martins has been busy engaged on two simulators in Grove
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Photographs
MS: Alex Albon mentioned many sources have been being devoted to subsequent yr’s FW49. Have you ever been engaged on it?
VM: “Sure, however we’re a sizeable pool of drivers, so we’ve totally different duties and targets. As of now, I feel I’m extra devoted to present growth with the FW48, in order that’s race assist. For example, yesterday [on Thursday ahead of the Belgian GP] I used to be nonetheless on the simulator to arrange this weekend and have the final changes on power administration, so I’m focusing extra on this. However a number of occasions this yr I’ve been in a position to take a look at what’s coming within the subsequent few years and the way they behave relative to this yr’s automobile, in addition to the avenues to comply with.
“In fact, I feel many engineers are devoted to that growth, however for positive, while you’re in an F1 workforce, you get to work with many individuals on many alternative subjects, so it’s fairly humorous how typically you may have somebody you may need by no means met earlier than since you’d by no means labored on this and that, somebody you met yesterday as a result of that engineer has simply joined. There are a lot of of us in an F1 workforce, in order that’s lots of personnel and subjects, many issues to analyse, we’re continually evolving, discovering new issues on daily basis – even in my function as a simulator tester and developer.”
The Frenchman’s function at Williams means he is studying on daily basis
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Photographs
MS: Earlier, you mentioned it was good to your profession to be right here. Does that imply you’re nonetheless occupied with F1, and what does your future appear to be?
VM: “I’m not shying away from the very fact I nonetheless consider F1, however I consider F1 as a lot as WEC or System E for example, as a result of these are for my part the three most essential and coveted classes in motorsport for the most effective drivers on the earth, so for me it’s as essential to have one foot within the door in WEC, one foot in FE and one foot in F1.
“So sure, this stays a aim, reaching F1 continues to be a dream, that’s why I’m protecting that foot within the door at Williams, with that function which brings me rather a lot as a driver on the non-public aspect, on tips on how to method, study new issues on engineering, on the automobile.
“For example, {the electrical} aspect of F1 may give me good issues if I transfer to FE later in my profession, so there are a lot of connections between all these classes. Hypercar methods are very near F1 methods, so I can even convey issues that I study right here into Hypercar with Alpine. So it’s useful, no matter occurs for my profession, and it would give me at some point – you by no means know – an opportunity to drive in F1.”
Will Martins ever get a shot at F1?
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Photographs
We would like your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Staff
