2019-08-01_Maxim_Australia

The

BYSTEWARTBELL

SPECIALIST

SPORT

Alfa Romeo Racing’s ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI has

an uphill battle for his f irst full-time campaign with

teammate, 2007 F1 World Champion, Kimi Räikkönen.

We caught up with the 25-year-old to discuss...

A

ntonio Giovinazzi may be living

the dream as the first full-time

Italian racer on the Formula 1

grid since Jarno Trulli and Tonio

Liuzzi in 2011, and at an Italian-branded

team in Alfa Romeo Racing, but he’ll

need to keep his head down if he’s

to stay there — with Kimi Räikkönen

in the sister car.

The 2007 F1 World Champion may

not be the same relentless, razor-sharp,

heat-seeking missile he once was at

McLaren, but Räikkönen is still consistent,

and a tenacious point scorer. Something

Giovinazzi will need to match week-in, week-

out to retain his drive into 2020 and beyond.

The talent, from Martina Franca, also needs

to rise above his former reputation as a

crasher, having shunted twice in China

2017 — his second of two races as

a fill-in at Swiss team Sauber.

But he’s outqualified

Räikkönen three times in

the first nine races, up

to Austria, and things

are looking stronger

and it’s noticeable

in his outward

confidence.

Has the team paid more interest in Kimi

Räikkönen’s feedback so far?

I think the team did a fantastic job during

the tests. They listened to Kimi and I. We

are two different drivers, so I need something

and Kimi [also] needs something. But I’m sure

we did a good job in winter tests and I hope

we work really well.

Is your setup direction different to Kimi’s?

For sure — Kimi has more experience than

me but, so far, the team is doing a fantastic

job listening to both of us. This is what the

team will continue to do during the season.

How did you up your game for your

full-time debut?

I’m a different driver compared to 2017. I had

two years in the background with Ferrari doing

a lot of work in the simulator but also testing

with Pirelli, FP1s with Sauber. So I’m a different

driver, mentally for sure I’m more relaxed now

because I know I will have my season. I can try

to improve race by race but I will approach the

race weekend in a different way.

How useful was this period off the grid?

To be a top [F1] driver is not really easy

because you don’t have a lot of miles on the