On March 28, Victor Martins took part in the Formula E rookie test in Madrid. Martins participated in the rookie test with Nissan for the first time in the Gen 3 Evo cars. The Girls Who – Motorsport had the chance to talk with the French driver, who reflected on the experience.
The Excitement of It All
The French driver described the opportunity as both “amazing” and highly valuable. He underlined just how significant the experience was for his ongoing development. “Quite a smooth day, quite long, a lot of things to test,” Martins said. Then reflecting on a busy and somewhat exhaustive programme of running and stressing the responsibility that comes with such outings. How big the importance of consistently performing at a high level is in order to deliver the most precise and useful feedback to the team.
When talking about the physical preparation, Martins explained how different it felt from driving a Formula 2 car. In terms of overall car weight, he felt it was relatively similar, but what stood out most was the steering wheel. The Frenchman described it as “very heavy and very big”, emphasising how markedly different and somewhat unfamiliar the feel was compared to what he is accustomed to.
The Importance of Communication
Dwelling in his role as a development driver for Williams, Martins explained how having these opportunities helped him. He explained that each session offers a chance to learn and refine his understanding of engineering feedback and communication. A key and often underappreciated aspect of modern motorsport performance.
Victor Martins highlighted, “Having worked with Williams in F1, they have their approach, which I learn from and I see, I feel. Then I come here; they have another approach. So, as a driver, it’s good to be open-minded and learn every type of approach.”
Formula E Development as A Series
As a former Formula 2 and 3 driver, Martins also shared his perspective on Formula E and its ongoing evolution. With increasing interest from younger drivers and growing visibility for the championship, he believes the series is steadily establishing itself as a more compelling and attractive destination.
The French driver admitted that Formula E is becoming a championship capable of attracting young drivers. Martins added, “They (Formula E) have a true goal and objective to show that the car is performing and is performing where they want.”