Felipe Nasr: From the Cockpit

Now in his second season racing for Sauber, Felipe Nasr will continue to write exclusively for F1i to provide insight in to the life of an F1 driver

Let lap number two begin!

Hi guys, I just want to drop a quick word to you all, straight from Australia before the beginning of the 2016 Formula One season.

Here we are, on the eve of the second ‘lap’ in my F1 career. A brand new lap in so many aspects, but at least I can rely on last year. Although this might not seem a lot, having one season under my belt provides valuable grounding and understanding compared to 12 months ago when I was starting from scratch. Using the experience I have gathered with Sauber, we have put a lot of efforts in the new C35 and will continue to do so.

A slightly different ball game

While we are visiting mostly the same venues, that does not mean there has not been any change over the winter. Even if we have improved our decision-making processes, be it the team or me as driver, there’s bound to be a few surprises stemming from the new tyre regulations, revised qualifying format, and fresh ban on radio communications. And we have to adapt to these tweaks all the while working on a new car.

The rewards will come from our ability to respond to the exciting and ever-changing world of Formula One. By mastering these new factors and parameters quicker than the competition, we should be able to fight for better positions and hopefully score some points. And this even with the arrival of an 11^th team, Renault’s renaissance, McLaren’s progress, and so on. We have to be challenging at least to defend the position we secured in the 2015 Constructors’ championship.

Not an easy job, but pleasant as always

But hey, this is in Formula One! I am amongst the only 22 drivers in the world who are happy and lucky to compete in this year’s championship. First and foremost, we are all longing to get started and back out on track. Only a few hours to go!

I will be back here on F1i after the Australian Grand Prix. Until then, let’s enjoy the fast ride around Albert Park.

Many thanks for the opportunity and talk to you on Wednesday.