19/11/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's Macau Grand Prix, Pitpass' Stewart Bell caught up with Japan F3 Championship winner, and three-time Spyker Friday driver, Adrian Sutil, for this exclusive interview.
Congratulations on winning the Japanese Formula 3 title with five wins, three pole positions and five fastest laps - how has the year gone for you, according to your expectations?
Adrian Sutil: "It was good. The whole year was very nice. With a great team at my side, I could do a perfect season and I hope to continue that here in Macau."
Although you ended the season strongly, the early rounds didn't always go to plan. Roberto Streit drove into you at Fuji, and the yellow flag incidents and a lack of front-end grip at Suzuka. Did these misfortunes affect your confidence to push for the title early on?
AS: "No, because I was always sure. I had a good car. I know how to drive. I know everything I need to know. I mean, you may not always have the best days, this happens. However, I always so close, and like I said, the team was helping me a lot. I could trust them and this gave us a very strong team for myself. I was always confident."
After victories at Motegi, Okayama, and Suzuka, the final round at Motegi must have been an emotional rollercoaster. How did you cope with the pressure?
AS: "It was sad, because we did nothing really wrong. I got a message on the radio, but that was really unclear as to the brake ducts were too big. It makes no difference. Ok, it's a regulation. But, it was a great race, one of my best races. It was a good car, so it was very sad to lose that. For myself, I won the race. Everybody saw it like that, so it was no problem."
What have you learnt from this year?
AS: "This year I learnt a lot. This year was the first year that I could really show my full potential. Last year, I was still learning and I made mistakes in the races. But this year my strong side was in the rain. To always set consistent lap times and to always very strong from the beginning to the end. I had a good team that could always show me new things about driving or technical. Last year I had a very good team, and this year I have another good team. Now I'm really on a good level and hopefully I'll move to Formula 1."
You've had some amazing opportunities this year - testing the Toms GT car; and the coveted Friday practice role for Midland/Spyker at the European, French and Japanese Grands Prix. How have you gone about mentally preparing yourself for each new challenge?
AS: "Well, normally what you can do is be physically 100%, train a lot. However, I need to have fun when I'm driving. If I'm having fun, then I'm fast. When I was in Formula 1, I was so excited - my first lap, I really enjoyed it and that's why I was so fast I think. This was the same in GT, it was like a touring car and I was really on it and I wanted to show my best."
What was the SpykerMF1 like to drive around Suzuka, in comparison to your Japanese Formula 3 car?
AS: "It was actually not so bad! It was about two seconds slower than the front-runners. However, for a new driver, coming from Formula 3 to Formula 1, it's huge. The car was never sliding. You have so much downforce. It was amazing."
Did you find any difficulties moving from the Formula 3 to the Formula 1 car?
AS: "The difference was the downforce, the braking, and the power of the engine. To be honest, in every way the Formula 1 car is two steps beyond the Formula 3 car. So the change was a little bit difficult, but it was only in the first few laps that you over braked the car and thought 'where am I now?' But then you go back to the Formula 3 car and it's about 20 seconds a lap difference, it's just so big."
You've not driven at Macau before, how have you prepared for this race?
AS: "I was really looking forward to this race. I knew from talking to every driver that this track was the best. I went around with the road car a little bit and saw that it was really nice. I really like street courses, like Pau or Monaco. I was racing last year and I like it very much, it's the same here. I mean, the limit to go off, it's very small. That's the challenge, to do no mistakes and to be clever and go faster."
Do you have any strategies for this weekend?
AS: "Winning would be the best, for sure. Everybody wants it. I think we have a chance to win. Maybe the Mercedes cars are strong with a light engine; they are fast on the mountainside. But our car, we have a really good setup and last year they were quite successful here. It would be really great if I could win with this team because I really love these guys."
What have you organised for next year? Are you talking with SpykerMF1? What other teams are you talking with?
AS: "Well, nothing is decided. Next week we will make our decision, and we'll for sure try and stay with Spyker in Formula 1 and it is looking good. In one week we should know if I will stay there or not. They are a young team. Now they have more money to move forward and Ferrari engines, Mike Gascoyne has also joined the team. So I think now is a really great point to join the team and I think they will move forward in the next two years, a good midfield team."
Are you considering a season in GP2?
AS: "Not really. We have already considered it, but from our side it is a step down. My name is already in Formula 1 and to go back to GP2, you have to win it. It's quite difficult - you need the best team like ART Grand Prix. There are only one or two teams that can do it. Otherwise if you don't win you need another year, you lose time. So, it is only the last solution, nothing else."