Can you summarize your impressions of this start of the season?
There have been ups and downs. On a positive note, the car is very innovative and fast. It also responds well to setup changes, has a good top speed on straights, and has proven competitive on tracks with different profiles. We’ve already secured two podiums in three races, which is a real plus. On the other hand, we haven’t reached our full potential yet, and I hope that the team and I can progress in that direction. The first three races have given us a good picture of our strengths and weaknesses. Thanks to the break we’ve just had, we’ve been able to analyze the situation and see where we can improve.
Do you think you have adapted well to the new features in F1 this season, namely the DRS (drag reduction system) and KERS?
«As with anything, the more you use it, the easier it becomes. But we’re still working towards perfecting its use, which should be ready for Turkey. I find everything is working well, even though I’m not a big fan of the movable wing because I don’t like things intended to artificially improve the race. The biggest difference comes from the tires. If the car in front is running on the same tires as I am, even with the wing activated, overtaking can still prove difficult. That was exactly the intended purpose with this DRS. But if I have fresher tires, the task becomes much easier. I believe we’ve seen a lot more overtaking than in the past. »
Are you finding your place in the team?
Everything happened so quickly since February. It means I’ve had to go through a very rapid learning experience. I joined the team for most of the winter tests, and we went straight into the first race. It’s a constant challenge to make sure everything works, but that being said, I’m impressed by the quality of relationships we’ve built in a few weeks. The people at Lotus Renault GP really want the driver to feel comfortable in the car, and they give you a lot of confidence. They are really attentive, as much as I am, and that has helped us a lot to develop a constructive relationship. All this makes me really appreciate this approach based on very open exchanges in both directions.
In Turkey, you will, of course, aim to achieve a solid performance?
Obviously, yes. In the first three races, we showed that our car was good. The one in Istanbul could be very interesting because it’s the first European round and many teams will bring updates, including us. I hope that we can deliver a great performance again.
