Take us back a few month ago and the announcement that you would become a Williams driver for next season. How did it interfere with your season and all the others things you still had to do ?
To put it simply, the whole talk really started at the end of my F3 season, around August and the summer break. But I tried as much as possible to put it aside so I could focus on winning the championship.
More than anything else, I knew I needed to do that to be where I am today. This was really the only thing on my mind but as soon as I was done with the competition, I enjoyed it for a while.
Then, I started meeting and talking to more and more guys at Williams, already discussing plans for 2017. Things started off quietly but when I finished F3, I turned my mind on Formula One and Williams.
What kind of homework did you have to do ? Tell us a bit about the first meetings with the engineers ?
It was intense. I mean, there are so many things in a F1 car that you actually need to know about. The technical aspect alone is enormous ; it’s all about boutons and procedures that I have never even experienced before in a car.
So, I have been preparing a lot by reading manuals, learning switches and all those little things you need to be aware of for 2017. The physical aspect is also very important.
I spend a lot of time in the gym, getting fit for the future cars that are meant to be much harder to drive. These are all the areas that I am working on right now to be as ready as possible.
The technical aspect alone is enormous ; it’s all about buttons and procedures that I have never even experienced before in a car. So, I have been preparing a lot by reading manuals, learning switches and all those little things you need to be aware of for 2017.
What did you feel when you went to Grove and saw the scale of the operations center for the first time ?
It was impressive, as you can imagine. You have hundreds and hundreds of people who are working every day for just two cars to go fast.
From the outside, it’s pretty hard to imagine and you really appreciate this reality once you see all those people working to make these cars function. It was really an amazing place to go visit.
The technical aspect alone is enormous ; it’s all about buttons and procedures that I have never even experienced before in a car. So, I have been preparing a lot by reading manuals, learning switches and all those little things you need to be aware of for 2017.
What was your reaction driving the 2014 car for the first time ? Did it blow your mind ?
Definitely ! I mean, you get the best type of car in the world in your hands. F1 being the pinnacle of motorsport, there’s nothing really faster than that. It’s all about power, downforce, everything is a big step up from Formula 3.
But at the end of the day, it’s another car you have tried, you need to get used to it as quickly as possible and move forward.
Have you been asking Felipe (Massa) for advice ?
Not really, I must say (laughs) ! I just listen very carefully to the engineers while I try to figure a lot of stuff out by myself, which is part of my learning process. There is still plenty more to learn before the season kicks off but everyone in the team really helps me moving in the right direction.
