Felipe Drugovich spoke with FormulaNerds forward of monitor motion commencing at Spa-Francorchamps, for the primary spherical of the post-summer triple-header, which will likely be crucial to his F2 title cost.
The MP Motorsport driver at the moment sits atop the F2 standings by 21 factors from ART’s Théo Pourchaire. Nonetheless, he noticed his as soon as seemingly insurmountable lead within the championship whittled down within the rounds main as much as the summer season break.
Hailing from Brazil, Drugovich spent the summer season break again dwelling, which he described as “very good,” and a possibility to “re-charge a little bit bit and loosen up.”
Following that, Drugovich hung out again with MP Motorsport doing simulator work. Total, he felt that the summer season allowed the group to take inventory of their season up to now:
“I believe this break got here in the proper time for us to analyse every little thing we did improper, and proper, and to enhance.”
The Triple-Header
Regardless of a troublesome few rounds in July – relative to Pourchaire, his important championship rival – Drugovich isn’t trying to change his strategy as F2 heads into the triple-header at Spa, Zandvoort and Monza:
“The strategy we’ve been taking has labored, mainly, so we have to do this; preserve doing that. Clearly [we need to] see what we did improper and enhance that.
“It’s going to be small adjustments right here and there, simply to fine-tune every little thing – being the automobile set-up, or strategy, or my driving. So yeah, I believe it’s simply fine-tuning every little thing, however the strategy ought to be fairly comparable.”
Although all traditional circuits, Drugovich sees the distinctive challenges of every spherical, which can all contribute closely to his probabilities of taking the F2 title:
“Every weekend ought to be a distinct factor. Right here [at Spa-Francorchamps], it’ll be fascinating to see the monitor variations, they’ve modified the structure a bit from the monitor. It’ll be fascinating to see Zandvoort as nicely – it’ll be a really bodily monitor; it’ll be fairly cool. Monza remains to be Monza, no adjustments, so we transfer on.
“However I believe will probably be, after all, crucial weekends to enter the opposite mega break now we have [before Abu Dhabi] nonetheless in entrance. So, hopefully, we will do a great job and prolong the lead [of the championship].”
“Every part occurs for a motive”
Drugovich got here into F2 with MP Motorsport for the 2020 season after only one F3 season with Carlin Buzz Racing.
He rapidly impressed, taking victory in his first F2 dash race. One other dash race win got here in Spain earlier than he ended the season in model with a function race win within the penultimate spherical, in Bahrain. A podium within the function race the next week, additionally in Bahrain capped off a powerful first 12 months in F2.
A transfer to UNI-Virtuosi for 2021 introduced new challenges and a disappointing season which yielded no wins. Though Drugovich did decide up 4 podiums and common factors finishes.
When requested what he’d realized from a tricky 2021, Drugovich make clear the way it has helped him mount his championship struggle this season:
“Yeah, it actually did assist me, final 12 months. I believe it doesn’t have something to do concerning the end result[s] as a result of I believe the dangerous end result[s] I had was attributable to different issues. However, due to these troublesome instances and troublesome outcomes, I improved lots and it’s serving to me lots this 12 months.
“Particularly on being constant and being on the prime, after I can, and scoring the factors doable when it’s not doable to win.
“Yeah, I believe it actually helped me out mentally and yeah, I’ve been getting good outcomes since then. So, I believe every little thing occurs for a motive, and that basically helped me.”
Alternatives in F1
These good outcomes have led to Drugovich being deservedly touted as a future F1 driver, amidst the quickly intensifying F2 title race. The triple-header and the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi may very well be crucial to the Brazilian’s future.
See additionally
Drugovich confirmed to FormulaNerds that this will likely be his final season within the junior classes and that he’s trying into openings inside the F1 paddock. When requested about subsequent season, Drugovich mentioned:
“For positive not F2. We’re trying into alternatives with F1 groups – my dream remains to be alive, and we actually must push to be there.
“Primary driver in F1, like a primary driver seat, will likely be very troublesome for subsequent 12 months. Not unattainable, you by no means know, however very troublesome, so we’re trying to reserve seat alternatives as nicely.
“However yeah, I believe if I can preserve doing the job I’m doing, and at the least be combating for the championship till the top, we will perhaps discover a possibility there.”
If he have been to achieve a race seat, Drugovich can be assuming a prestigious mantle, one which hasn’t been seen in F1 for nearly two years, which might have appeared unimaginable only a decade in the past.
The boy from Brazil
A Brazilian driver hasn’t began an F1 race since Pietro Fittipaldi deputised for the injured Romain Grosjean at Haas for the top of the 2020 season. Not since 2009 has a Brazilian tasted victory when Rubens Barrichello received the Italian Grand Prix for Brawn.
FormulaNerds spoke with Drugovich about whether or not coming from a rustic with such a wealthy racing pedigree got here with any added stress:
“Sure and no. I believe it comes with the positives, that are being recognised and other people actually pushing you ahead. They actually assist me by social media – they’re very supportive.
“However on the opposite aspect, you will have a little bit little bit of stress since you’re representing Brazil and, just about, I’m the man that’s closest to be there [in F1].
“So, there’s a little bit of each, however I believe, clearly, I’ve to be very grateful for this, as a result of it’s at all times such an amazing alternative to signify Brazil. And the persons are actually having fun with this, I believe.”
Featured Picture Credit score: @Formula2 on Twitter