Native hero and Aston Martin Aramco Check and Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne previews the Belgian Grand Prix forward of this weekend and his first time behind the wheel of the AMR24 in subsequent week’s two-day Pirelli tyre take a look at.
The Belgian Grand Prix is your property race. What does it imply to you?Stoffel Vandoorne: “It is all the time very particular for me after we go racing in Belgium. Regardless that I have never pushed an F1 automobile on the Belgian Grand Prix for a short time, it is all the time an occasion I sit up for. It is one of many highlights of the 12 months.
“At any time when I’ve raced in entrance of a house crowd, I’ve completely loved it. You’ve lots of people cheering for you and I’ve all the time had quite a lot of family and friends attending Spa. I feel for anybody that has a house race it is all the time an extremely particular, distinctive feeling. It provides you further power to attempt to give the followers a superb outcome.
“Spa is my favorite observe – as it’s for many drivers. It is an old-school, difficult circuit that rewards bravery. It’s totally lengthy and there are quite a lot of elevation adjustments. You are feeling the final word efficiency of the automobile via its many quick, flowing corners.
“I like Pouhon, the double-left high-speed nook in Sector Two. The cornering pace that an F1 automobile carries via there’s tremendous spectacular. It’s totally thrilling and difficult to drive.”
What is the superb automobile setup to sort out F1’s longest circuit?SV: “It is a tough circuit to search out the optimum setup. You’ve an enormous trade-off between downforce and drag to take care of as a result of there are very lengthy straights but in addition quite a lot of high-speed corners, notably in Sector Two. In Sectors One and Three you desire a Monza-type setup by way of downforce to get excessive straight-line pace, however then within the center sector you need larger downforce to optimise the cornering pace.”
Spa has notoriously unpredictable climate and it typically rains throughout the race weekend. How do the drivers and workforce handle that unpredictability?SV: “You need to be dynamic. Finally, it is the identical for everybody and it is normally these which might be finest ready that do properly in these situations. It is about being on the observe on the proper time, particularly in Qualifying, and having the suitable tyres on on the proper time all through the weekend.
“The lap is over such an extended distance that when it begins to rain it could generally solely have an effect on a part of the circuit. If that occurs, it makes it very difficult for the drivers and really straightforward to make errors on the moist sections. Selecting the correct time to field for Moist tyres places quite a lot of stress on the groups and the drivers however in case you get it proper you could be rewarded. It actually requires a complete workforce effort to carry out properly in moist situations.”
What have you ever been as much as just lately in your position as Check and Reserve Driver for the workforce?SV: “I have been doing quite a lot of simulator work recently. Earlier this week, I did some correlation work for the final race in in Hungary, earlier than specializing in preparations for Spa. The workforce did a incredible job to get all of the updates to Hungary forward of the ultimate two races earlier than the summer season break, and now we’ve got further time to analyse them and unlock their potential forward of the races after the summer season shutdown.
“I will be busier with the workforce after the break as a result of I will not have my Method E commitments because the season has ended. We’ll be pushing arduous within the second a part of the 12 months as we attempt to take a step nearer to these in entrance.”
You are with the workforce in Belgium this weekend. What’s in your schedule?SV: “I will be doing all the pieces Lance and Fernando do other than driving to make sure I am up to the mark in case I’ve to leap within the automobile in some unspecified time in the future. I am doing the Pirelli Tyre Check on Tuesday and Wednesday after the Grand Prix, so I will be observing all the pieces that the workforce is doing this weekend to ensure I am as ready as doable for that.”
You’ll drive the AMR24 for the primary time in subsequent week’s two-day Pirelli tyre take a look at at Spa. What are you anticipating?SV: “It is all the time particular to drive a Method One automobile – there’s nothing that comes near it. It is a 12 months since I drove AMR23 at Spa and there was quite a lot of rain. It seems like will probably be sunnier this time round so I am going to get to have a correct really feel for it. Driving an F1 automobile is probably the most wonderful expertise and I am able to get again within the cockpit. I am very excited to drive AMR24 for the primary time and to get to work subsequent week.”
The Belgian Grand Prix is the ultimate race earlier than the summer season shutdown. How does a driver method the break?SV: “You positively need a while off by this level within the 12 months. You need to swap off from racing as a result of the season may be very intense. There’s quite a lot of stress, quite a lot of media consideration, and it is very bodily due to all of the travelling and back-to-back races, so that you need to get some relaxation and recharge your batteries.
“On the identical time, the season is ongoing . It is solely a brief break and there are nonetheless quite a lot of races after the shutdown so you possibly can’t totally loosen up. You are fascinated about the second a part of the season and ensuring you do not lose concentrate on that.
“It is a balancing act. You’re taking time to relaxation but in addition be sure to’re able to assault from the primary race again.”
