David Hungry for More in Budapest
Sri Lankan racing driver Yevan David heads to the Hungaroring this weekend hungry to convert recent progress into another strong FIA Formula 3 result as the championship reaches its final round before the summer break.
Competing with AIX Racing, the 19-year-old arrives in Hungary with growing belief after his historic Silverstone podium and a Spa-Francorchamps weekend that he believes showed stronger execution than the final results suggested.
With Budapest marking Round 7 of the nine-event FIA Formula 3 season, David is aware that opportunities to convert pace into results are becoming increasingly important.
“It definitely feels important to end on a high before the summer break,” said David.
“No matter what happens this weekend, I will be working as hard as possible over the summer for the last two rounds anyway, but you are aware that we are into the final few rounds of the season and you want to give it everything.”
“Naturally, I want to work harder and put everything together, but the approach has to be the same as any other weekend. We need to follow the same procedures, do the same things well and then tweak what we need to.”
Budapest brings a very different challenge from Spa. While the Belgian circuit rewards slipstreaming, bravery and overtaking, the Hungaroring places a far greater emphasis on qualifying, rhythm and track position.
For David, that makes Friday execution crucial.
“Qualifying is significantly important this weekend,” he said.
“It is very hard to overtake in Budapest, as we all know, so the aim is to be in the top 12 for the reverse grid, and ideally in the top 10.”
“But we do not only want podiums or strong results in Sprint Races. We want to do it in the Feature Race as well, because that is where the bigger points are. Qualifying high, putting the lap together and being consistent — that is the goal.”
David has already shown what can happen when he starts further up the field, taking second place in the Silverstone Sprint Race to become the first Sri Lankan driver to stand on an FIA Formula 3 podium. Since then, he believes the aim has shifted from proving what is possible to making that level repeatable.
“Silverstone probably changed a few people’s views on me, but I am not too worried about that,” he said.
“I am focused on what I need to do, how I see myself succeeding this weekend and what I can improve. No matter what the noise is around me, I need to focus on myself.”
“If people think good things or bad things, at least they are watching, and I am grateful for that. But their opinion can change depending on what I do on track. That is down to me. I need to make myself happy, make myself proud and keep working towards my goals as a person and as a driver.”
The Hungaroring weekend also gives David the chance to build on the positives he took from Spa, where he felt the team remained within reach of the competitive midfield despite a disrupted qualifying session and a race weekend compromised by incidents outside his control.
“The positives from Spa are that we showed we can be in that mid-pack area,” said David.
“At Silverstone we were more in the top 12 in qualifying, but even at Spa we were around the top 15, so I think we can carry that into Budapest.”
“Historically, the team has been good here, so we have a strong baseline. From my side, I am just going to drive to the absolute limit and improve whatever I need to improve.”
That personal target is central to David’s ambitions for the weekend. While a top-10 finish in both races would represent the ideal outcome, he believes the most important step is to be immediately at the limit from the first lap of Free Practice rather than building towards it too slowly across the event.
“Top-10 finishes in both races would be a successful weekend,” he said.
“But on a personal level, the goal is to drive to the limit of the car from the first lap I step into it. From the first lap of Free Practice to the end of the weekend, I want to be at the limit on every lap.”
“Even if I go slightly over the limit, that is fine, because at least I will be on it straight away rather than chasing it throughout the weekend. That has been a weakness recently, and I really want to rectify it.”
“I know I can do it. I know I can drive to the limit, and that is what will enable us to be higher up in qualifying and have stronger results in both the Sprint and Feature Race.”
The FIA Formula 3 Championship continues at the Hungaroring from 24–26 July, with David aiming to convert his recent progress into another points-scoring weekend before the final two rounds of the season.
Yevan David’s racing is supported by Lion Beer 0.0%, Maliban, Dimo Group, Nations Trust Bank, Fidem Asia and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC).
FIA Formula 3 action at Hungaroring starts with practice (09:55-10:40) and qualifying (15:00-15:30) on Friday, the Sprint Race (10:05-10:50) on Saturday then the Feature Race on Sunday (08:40). All times local.
