Silverstone preview
This is your third season in GP2. You started it as one of the favourites for the title. How do you feel about that way things have turned out so far? JdA: “Well obviously it isn’t the way I wanted things to turn out, but there’s not much I can do about it now. There’s no sense in feeling bad or anything. You just have to try and turn things around and then we’ll see.”
You’ve been in the championship for three years. Do you think this year’s field is more competitive than say, 2009, for example? JdA: “It’s not really all that different from year to year. The drivers are always good drivers, so there’s not much change from one season to the next.”
In free practice, you’re generally among the front-runners and in qualifying things seem to go against you ? Why? “Well, I don’t quite agree with that. In Istanbul and Monaco we were good in qualifying. But then when you qualify far back like in Valencia, it makes things difficult. We’ve had problems getting the tyres to work properly; it’s a bit of everything, really.”
Do you like Silverstone? What kind of challenge is it for a driver? JdA: Yes, I like it but it’s obviously changed quite a bit. I had my best qualifying here last year in the main GP2 Series with fourth place. It’s very technical and fast and I’m looking forward to driving on the new layout.
Do you think this new layout is going to be harder to master? JdA: “I think it’s going to be harder on the rear tyres. I think that the first section is going to be very challenging for any car that has high downforce. It’s not really more difficult, just different.
Do you think you can win at Silverstone? JdA: “Well, we always go for that. But from the results of last season, we hope to be able to get back into the top six in qualifying here, and then we’ll see for the race, but getting back into the top six is the most important thing.
You’re currently lying fourteenth in the championship. Do you think you’ll be able to make it into the top six before the end of the season? JdA: “Well obviously that’s the goal. In the four events that we’ve had so far, if you look at the results I’m quite far back in terms of points, but anything can happen in the races during the summer.
Have you any idea of your plans for 2011 yet? JdA: “Well obviously, the goal is to be on the grid in Formula 1, but we have to focus on what we’re doing now. That’s the most important thing.”
