Daniël De Jong: "Qualifying is crucial in GP2"

Halfway through the GP2 season Daniël de Jong is on six points after taking top ten finishes in the Monaco and Baku Feature races.

However, the MP Motorsport driver failed to score in both Austria and Great Britain.

According to De Jong this was partly to do with circumstances such as safety cars and rain, but he also blames his qualifying performances, where he was 20th, and 18th fastest at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone.

"You can go fast in a race and top ten-times drop, but in GP2 you have to mostly go hard in qualifying, you can see it even in fast guys," he said. "If they have to start at the back they are nowhere as they normally compete for the podium. "

"I noticed it myself in Baku as well. When I started more in front and it went a lot easier. If you drive over good times, you walk away." he tells Formula 1. "If I am there in the top ten qualifiers, it can be fun. I do not do that, then it becomes very difficult. Especially on a track like the Hungaroring."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team MP Motorsport
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Jul 9 1992 (33)
  • Place of b. Rotterdam, NL
  • Weight 75 kg
  • Length 1.82 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar