ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI
A chat with the Italian about getting a proper crack at F1
“I CAN’T WAIT FOR MONZA, BECAUSE IT WILL BE CRAZY FOR ME AS AN ITALIAN DRIVER RACING THERE IN F1”
Eight years have passed since an Italian driver last raced full-time in Formula 1. After starting two races in 2017, Antonio Giovinazzi has been given a full crack with Alfa Romeo this season. As we approach F1’s traditional summer break we caught up with Kimi Räikkönen’s new team-mate… How would you describe your season with Alfa Romeo so far?
If you look at the points, it hasn’t been the best start to the season. At the beginning we had a number of issues and bad luck, so it was difficult to piece everything together. For the past two years I’ve had a development role at Ferrari where I wasn’t racing regularly and instead working in their simulator – so it was not easy to reset. In the last few races I’ve been happy in my performance and been quite close to Kimi Räikkönen. I just need to continue the hard work and the points will come.
It looked as though the Alfa chassis was strong to begin with, but there has been a fall in the order for the team since the start of the year. Can you explain why?
Yes, we were fast in pre-season and at the very start, but the midfield is really tight, so if one team finds a really small advantage they’re able to jump a lot of positions. We need to fight back in order to try and get into the top ten.
You have a former world champion as a team-mate. What have you been able to learn from Kimi?
I was really happy to start my rookie season with him alongside me. He’s still fast and he most recently won a grand prix last year, in Austin. He’s a championship-winning driver with a lot of experience. It is difficult to be close to Kimi but I’m learning a lot from him. We work well together and with our feedback we’re helping the team try and improve the car race by race.
The main thing I’ve learned from Kimi is he’s always quick. In qualifying he’s always there, showing the real pace of the car and never makes a mistake – his experience comes out in those moments.
What’s the situation with Alfa’s simulator? Has one been built yet?
We still don’t have a simulator and we don’t use the Ferrari one either. It’s something that we’re working on and hopefully we might have one in place next year. It’s quite an important tool for the development of the car and we could be a lot faster as a result. It’s something we’re looking into.
In mid-june you were the recipient of the 2019 Bandini Trophy, presented in memory of Italian racer Lorenzo Bandini. How did it feel to scoop this honour?
I’m really honoured to be awarded this. The first thing I did was to look at the drivers who had won this beforehand and it was unbelievable [former winners include Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso]. To be part of that list is something that I’m really proud of. They say that anyone who gets the trophy also gets a little bit of luck, so I’m hoping that will help me for the rest of the season.
And you drove your F1 car on the public roads of Italy for a stretch of 13km…
Yes, it was an amazing experience. I’m a big fan of cycling and it felt a little like I was on the Giro d’italia – on a normal road with so many people on either side. Plus, the course car in front was going quite fast, so I enjoyed the speed...
How much support do you get from back home?
In Italy we have two fantastic brands in Ferrari and Alfa Romeo and there is a lot of support for me also. I can’t wait for Monza, because it will be crazy for me as an Italian driver racing there in F1.
After your shot at F1 appeared to stall, it must be a relief to get the chance to prove your credentials at this level?
For the past two years, even though I was working on the simulator for Ferrari and doing some FP1 sessions, I always worked to the maximum of my abilities. I never stopped training and never gave up my focus and goal to become an F1 driver. I got my opportunity and now need to achieve a good result.