Difficult weekend at Monza

02-05-17

 

Monza was a frustrating weekend for me in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

 

We all had a tough time in the Hitech GP team, and my single point for 10th place in race one isn't much to shout about.

 

From a personal point of view, the satisfaction came from being the fastest of the four Hitech drivers in first qualifying. We were chasing the set-up from the start of free practice, and I wasn't happy with my lap, but at least it put me eighth on the grid. Second qualifying was very difficult. I had to drop back from a big group that were all getting in each other's way to run on my own.

'I think it was one of the best laps I've ever driven, but without a slipstream I just didn't have enough speed on the straights.'

In race one I didn't make a great start, and I had a small run over the gravel trap when making a move into the Ascari chicane – that meant I lost touch with the midfield group, but I recovered to 10th. In race two I struggled for straight line pace again. And in the third race I was challenging Harrison Newey into the second chicane on lap one when I got a hit from one of the other drivers, which lifted me into the air and broke the suspension.

 

At least the next round is at Pau. I've raced there in Formula Renault and finished on the podium, and it's a great street circuit so I'm looking forward to it. In the meantime, we have a lot to analyse about Monza; we need to turn around our performance this year but we can. I will do my utmost with what I have, that is for sure.

 

Qualifying Race 1: 8th

Qualifying Race 2: 14th
Qualifying Race 3: 13th
Race 1: 10th
Race 2: 13th
Race 3: retired

 

 

 

 

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