I guess this is even more complicated today with the test restrictions. Because of that, you don’t have a lot of mileage to take with you when you go to Melbourne, do you ?
No, especially with these new cars. I think it will be something like eight days of testing in Barcelona. So, four days for myself and four days for… hum (he pauses…) someone else (laughs) !
That’s really not a lot of time but it’s part of the game and you will have of course other drivers who will find it easier thanks to their previous experience. But I feel up to the challenge and we know that it’s not all about arriving in Australia and being fit. It’s a long-time process, we are going to have twenty races with a lot to learn through the year.
Any idea when we might see the new FW40 ?
No, I am just the driver, I don’t get into details, sorry (laughs) !
As you mentioned earlier, 2017 will be a long season. As a rookie, you will naturally make mistakes. Do you have the feeling that Williams will be patient with you as you learn your way ?
Yes, they know I have a lot more to discover and learn than most drivers on the grid. Of course, they won’t take it easy on me and constantly push me forward. I am quite hard on myself too because I want to do the best I can and show them what I am capable of.
But the reality is such as it is ; there will be hard times. I think this will be tricky for the team as well with the new car, the new rules coming up. Pre-testing will be crucial as unknown issues might appear and it will also be my task to help them figure that stuff out.
Of course, they won’t take it easy on me and constantly push me forward. I am quite hard on myself too because I want to do the best I can and show them what I am capable of.
What do you hope to achieve for 2017 ?
Hum, it’s going to depend on different factors. First, the car. No one really knows for sure how they will perform. But I think I am going to really focus on myself and take the challenge step by step, race by race.
I don’t want to put any false expectations in my mind yet and want to see first the areas I feel fine in and adjust for the others where improvement will be needed. In general, a race-by-race approach should be the best one, that’s the way I have been functioning when I enter a new championship. It would be a mistake to set yourself goals that are unachievable, especially at my age.
Of course, they won’t take it easy on me and constantly push me forward. I am quite hard on myself too because I want to do the best I can and show them what I am capable of.
Looking at your rivals on the grid. Anyone you see as a particular target ?
No, I will challenge anyone I need to challenge, you know. One everyone has its helmet on, we all become rivals and there is no one in particular that ou want to beat but all of them !
One race that you are more looking forward to ? Montreal maybe ?
Yes, Montreal is going be unbelievable. It’s not only my home country, it’s where I grew up and I still live twenty minutes away from the track. I will be sleeping at home, waking up in the same bed I used when I went to go-kart races at the age of eight years old.
It’s going to be insane to do the same thing but this time to go racing in a Formula One Grand Prix !…
