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Antonio Giovinazzi says that he is feeling calmer since he was confirmed as a Sauber driver for the 2019 season, allowing him to now treat free practice one sessions differently.
Sauber confirmed this week that the Italian would line-up alongside Kimi Raikkonen next season, replacing Marcus Ericsson. Giovinazzi drove the Sauber C37 in Sochi on Friday during the opening practice session, his first since being announced as a full-time driver.
And he says that it has made for a much different approach, as he no longer has anything to prove: “I can say I’m a lot more calm now. It’s my first session already with that news for next year,” Giovinazzi said.
"I went to the car really calm, and with the mentality to do the best job for the team and to learn the track, because for me, Sochi was a new track. Of course it was a different mentality. All the time [before] I came in the track, [it] was to prove something, to have my seat. This time I was just there and thinking about next year, doing the best job for the team to improve the car for next year.”
Giovinazzi has raced for Sauber before, driving the car during the opening two rounds of the 2017 season. The 24-year-old has made multiple FP1 outings this year, with his run in Sochi being the first since Hungary before the summer break.
And since he last drove the car, he says he has noticed lots of progress for Sauber: “I would say the car was a lot better just everywhere. It was the same jump I felt from the rookie test in Barcelona to Hungaroring, and I felt another jump here,” Giovinazzi stated.
“Just the overall grip from the car. I was really happy for this. It was really good also to be in the top 10, my first top 10 in F1. After the signing, it was a good thing to celebrate.”
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (4)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Glad that he replaced Ericsson (or Leclerc depending how you want to think of it), but I think Giovinazzi will be another Pascal Wherlein. Take that as you will.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It could be, but I dont expect Ferrari to drop the ball on him the way Merc' did with Wehrlein.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
From what I can make out is that Gio is a well liked personality whereas almost every interview with Wehrlein there was an arrogance about him. Gio looked good in F3 whereas Wehrlein had the benefit from Mercedes support in DTM. Gio looks like an faster driver but only time will tell.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
His objective is well cut out for him, develop well into a best #2 driver ( for 2020/21), who doesn't often commit silly mistakes, but is always ready to pick up if the #1 fails to finish the race.