Drivers - Hiroto Nakumaya (Force Australia), Fillipio Fazio (Peugeot), Abel Osterhagen (Warrior), Regi Abott (Lucas), Jean Mattson (Team 23), Ivan Lesic (Peugeot) PRESS CONFERENCE Q: Jean I'd like to start with you please. You’re much further down the field than you were last year. It must be hard going from fighting for wins to scrapping for points, what’s gone wrong?
Jean Mattson: Yeah, the start of the year has been massively disappointing, for sure. I’m just trying to deal with the situation, not be distracted by the fact that the car has the steering properties of a cruise ship and just go as fast as possible. I’m sure we can develop this car such that later in the year we can score points on a regular basis. Q: There have also been reports that you have signed for Peugeot for next season, care to comment? Is it a case of jumping from a sinking ship? JM: Yes, I have signed with Peugeot. Obviously, being French, it’s a massive honour driving for one of the biggest French car manufacturers next year. But for now I’m focused on my job at Team 23 – the cruise ship hasn't sunk yet. (laughs) Q: Ivan, moving onto you, after your three outings last season you’re now back in the cockpit. How are you feeling? Ivan Lesic: Really excited! I can’t wait!! I was so happy last season to get the outings and I think I proved I can race. I’m so pleased that the team have put me back in the car for a few races. I want to race and I hope I prove I am good enough for a full time seat at some point in the future. Q: It’s widely known it was in your contract to have three races, but are you surprised they've come about so early? IL: Yes……I am. I was told by Kazuki that it would be towards the end of the season more so that I was going to get the drive. I think it was more because it allowed us as a team to work out where we were compared to everyone else. We were all confused by the last race and why we didn't perform where we should have done. I think the team also knew that this was the perfect opportunity to asses myself and Fillipio. We could have pulled out of the pre-agreed Regi deal, it would have been the easy option. I suppose last season taught us that a driver change can change everything and by comparing us to Lewis and Regi it should indicate to the team the best way of moving forward. Q: Talking about Regi, let's come to you next. You’re in a rather unusual situation. You've moved teams only to be moving back again in a few races, surely this disrupts your season? Regi Abott: Well we have been working quite closely with Lucas GP for a few months now, so its really just like moving departments within the same company. I intend to give my all to Peugeot for the remainder of the season, hopefully we can ensure both outfit’s success. Q: So far you've been quite unlucky this year. You were running strongly before running out of fuel in Australia and the car was poor in Malaysia, but how are Peugeot living up to your expectations so far? And how are you expecting Lucas to compare? RA: I only did one race for Molto Veloce last year, which was a small private team, so coming to Peugeot was quite a drastic change, they have 4 times the number of staff that we had at Molto Veloce. My first full time drive with the team has been amazing, we have had some early problems but we are hoping to iron them out by the mid season. Coming to Lucas Grand Prix is amazing, they have a great history in the sport and are such are great racing outfit. For sure they have not had the success currently like they had last year, but part of my role in the team is to help ensure their bid for points and podiums. Q: Fillipio, you’ll be making your race debut in Bahrain. How are you feeling ahead of it and what are your expectations? Fillipio Fazio: I don’t really know what to expect. I am excited! I can’t wait to race. For me it’s a bigger deal as I get to race with the best drivers. I’ll know myself if I’m good enough. Ivan has already raced so for me it’s a big step. Ivan and Regi have been giving some great advice about how to prepare for this, I’m really grateful! And…yeah…I just want to get started now! Q: You were test driver for Lucas last year, but it’s known around the paddock that you fell out with them and team principal Lucas after he promised you drives that never materialised. With the new partnership between Peugeot – your new team – and Lucas, is there any bad blood at all? How’s it going to work? FF: It’s all water under the bridge now. For the team it was the better thing. For me this is going to prove if they made the right decision or not. I don’t know where I’ll be next season, I don’t know if I’ll be with Peugeot. I want to race I hope I do well enough the be worthy of a seat. I know there are some problems in the team at the moment financially so I've heard that there won’t be two reserves. I know one of myself and Ivan is leaving or both of us. Nothings decided, I am in negotiations though. Q: Hiroto, a rather late call-up for this race following Gerard’s decision to step down. I understand you weren't expecting to race this season and haven’t done much for a while, are you worried about fitness and possibly being a bit rusty? Hiroto Nakumaya: It was very sudden! Not expecting a race, no, but always hoping. You stay fit and keep training as test driver, so no problems there. Only thought is that it’s my first time doing a race start in F1 – it’s normally just me and some others out on the track! Q: Tell us about the experience you do have? There are rumors flying around that you’ve only done GT racing? HN: Easy to forget the past! GTs are my most recent, but also started with karts in Japan, then the Nippon series for two years before GT cars. Q: So Abel, along with Fillipio and Hiroto, you’re another rookie making his debut this weekend. How are you feeling ahead of it? Abel Osterhagen: (looks across to Fillipio and Hiroto) Ah! Now I see why you put us all on one row together. Trying to keep us out of the way already. (laughs) I’m very, very ecstatic that I’ve been granted this opportunity to race in the VGPC, but I guess that it happens a lot with all rookies joining a big league. The circumstances though are quite saddening as to why I am here though, with James’ crash in Malaysia, but I have to put it all behind me and have a good time on track. Q: We’re aware you were testing for Renault 3000 when you got the call from Dylan offering you the seat. Obviously there’s quite a jump between Renault 3000 and the Virtual Grand Prix car’s, are you worried about that at all? The extra power of the car’s possibly catching you out? AO: I actually struggled for the whole first 2 days of testing at Renault 3000, my driving style was still synced to VGPC testing at Jerez. I still think I have those talents in my driving style, otherwise Lopez said just take it easy for my first race. Q: Finally, to you all. James Harding’s accident and injuries from Malaysia, and indeed the other aerial incidents from the race were quite scary. Are any of you worried about safety at all? RA: Shocking, something has to be done, its unacceptable. JM: I disagree. I mean, I had a bit of a roll myself as well. But this is motor racing, it’s dangerous, we all know that and we still drive. HN: Yeah, I agree with Jean. It’s something in the back of your mind as you race, but it’s part of our job, the danger. Safety is always improving but there’ll always be risk. IL: I’m not worried. I think it really depends on your driving style. I was involved in a major crash with Powers last season, you just have to watch the start of the Mexico race. After that I was a bit shaken but I've worked on my defensive driving so hopefully I won’t have an accident like that again. It can happen but I think I am more prepared for it now if it did. AO: Personally I haven’t seen James' crash so far since it happened. All I know is that it would have been a massive crash into the wall, or a ballerina’s act. I’m positive in the upcoming Driver’s meeting, all our driving in general will be questioned to make sure James’ accident doesn't happen again. FF: I would say I’m slightly nervous because of it. I knew I had the drive a while back, Regi’s deal was pre-arranged a few months back and I was told I had the seat then. I was really excited, then I saw the crashes. For me, that is scary! Going into my first race having just seen that, I’ll have to try and avoid any incidents. I’ll try and drive my own race. I need to prove myself! I have three races so I must make the most of it! I hope James is getting better and all of us hope to see him race soon.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|