15/05/2015
NEWS STORY
Deputy Team Principal Federico Gastaldi shares with us his thoughts on the team's performance and looks forward to the most prestigious race in the calendar.
What does Monaco mean for the team?
Federico Gastaldi: The Monaco Grand Prix is the real highlight of the calendar. First of all, the street circuit that is Monaco presents a very big challenge for the drivers because of the configuration and the pure nature of the track - it is narrow with next to no run-off areas and then there are all the barriers! Preparations for the race start a day earlier than normal as the first two Free Practice sessions are on the Thursday. Monte Carlo is also a very social event and our agendas are certainly not short of commitments throughout the week. From a business point of view it is also the place where we hold discussions with new prospects and where we have the opportunity to spend time with our existing partners. We are also planning a number of exciting announcements in the run up to the race so watch this space.
Do you enjoy the special atmosphere of the Principality?
FG: For sure I do enjoy the atmosphere of Monaco a lot. It's a different model of race weekend than anywhere else mixing motorsport at the highest level with the most incredible social scene. We are very close to the fans which I think is just fantastic. They get access to the track itself shortly after the running and they can really live Formula One at the very heart of it. I feel very privileged to be part of this event.
How do you stop team-mates from driving into each other?
FG: Of course these things can happen and it is part of racing, even if it's not ideal. Drivers always want to be on the front and at the end they are competing. They take risks and sometimes we see situations like the one we saw in Barcelona occur.
What are the challenges at this time of the season?
FG: We need to keep improving the level performance. We are much more competitive than last year - of course we have the new engine but it is also due to the aerodynamic and mechanical improvements made in 2015. The car's performance is very solid and we have big expectations for Monaco and indeed for the next upcoming races. Enstone keeps doing a great job and I'd like to thank everyone for the big efforts they are making. Our people are our best asset and we have two good experienced drivers. Let's continue to score points and gain places in the field.
The team scored points these last three races, what are your hopes for Monte Carlo?
FG: Again, the level of competitiveness of the E23 is there. We need to have a little bit of luck and have a clear weekend. We have every chance of being able to score points with both cars in Monte Carlo.
Did the team make good progress at the test?
FG: Yes it did. Pastor was testing a number of parts and working on preparations for next Grands Prix. He has shown a great deal of confidence around a circuit that he knows well. His feedback was very constructive for the team. Jolyon, who drove on the second day of testing, did a great job and it was a nice surprise for the team to see him do so well and complete a solid day's work. The team now looks forward in implementing findings of testing in Monaco.
What advice would you give the drivers ahead of the race on the streets of the Principality?
FG: I would say to them to be careful in the first corner at the race start!
Technical Director Nick Chester looks forward to Monaco and talks about the particularities of racing in the Principality.
Can you explain the unique challenges of Monaco and what they mean for the team?
Nick Chester: Monaco is very different from anywhere else. It is a slow speed track, extremely narrow and very bumpy being a street circuit. It's a real one-off compared to any other track we visit. This means that the car set-up is significantly different also. We will have a high downforce package specifically for Monte Carlo and we will take with us some of the work we've done at the Barcelona test this week - specific set up work focussed on Monaco.
It's a street course with little grip, no run-offs, close barriers, track evolution, high downforce, softest tyres - what are the implications of all these factors?
NC: It's a track where the drivers have to build up through the Thursday sessions as it takes a little bit of time getting back into. The surface evolution is massive and even through the two practice sessions on the Thursday it easily picks up a couple of seconds. The grip is improving very quickly and the drivers have to adapt to that as well as adapting back to a circuit that is so narrow and rough. We will have the Pirelli's soft and the super soft compounds in Monaco and indeed you need the softest tyres possible at that track.
Does running on Thursday, but then not on Friday make a difference?
NC: It definitely does make a difference. The track would have improved significantly throughout Thursday to then lose grip again with no running on the Friday, when the roads will have been open to the public all day and night. The track grip then improves again through FP3 and Qualifying and the circuit is significantly quicker by the end of the Grand Prix.
Monaco's notoriously difficult for overtaking, so what does that mean for the race strategy?
NC: With very few overtaking opportunities, qualifying position is key but the particularities of the track are an extra challenge on race day. The track evolution during the race is such that when you are working out how much the tyres are degrading it can be tricky as the track is getting quicker and the tyres are getting slower. This may look quite odd but it's a real challenge that we must carefully take into consideration when making strategic decisions.
In Barcelona we saw exploding bodywork, jaunty endplates, and some challenging pit stops. What's been going on?
NC: Barcelona was a busy weekend with a lot going on! On the Friday morning we had a gearbox problem on Pastor's car; it was a fairly minor one that we fixed for FP2. In the afternoon, we had some fixings break which caused for bodywork to come off on Romain's car. It was repaired and then the bodywork was fine. In the race, there was a bit of a tangle between the drivers and as a result it weakened the end plate on Pastor's car and then it broke. We decided to continue to run until we were sure that there weren't going to be opportunities for points and then it was sensible to retire the car. Romain had a gear problem during the race which he managed very well. We are currently investigating what had caused the issue. And both drivers stopped long at their pit stops on Sunday...
How are the pit crew?
NC: I'm glad to say that they are okay. Harry, who does the left front wing flap adjust, had his foot trapped slightly during Pastor's stop. Jason, who is the front jack man, took a bit of a hit when Romain stopped long and it certainly looked quite dramatic! Craig, whose position is ‘right front wheel off', was also caught in the action during Romain's stop. There are some bruises but they are all good. Again, the pit crew are doing an amazing job and they kept their cool in difficult circumstances.
How much of a challenge is it working in Monaco with the small garages set away from the rest of the team's set-up?
NC: It's a bit more challenging as everything is a lot tighter - the garages are small, the offices are tight, the tyres are kept at the back and everything is narrow - but it isn't that bad in reality compared to years ago when we used to work at the harbour and move the cars and all the kit into the pitlane for each session! So yes, the venue is different to anywhere else but we are well used to it.