Exclusive interview with Alexander Rossi, Caterham’s third driver

Alexander, let’s start by discussing yesterday’s [Friday’s] GP2 qualifications which were expected to be complicated with the rain forecasted to arrive in the middle of the session. You had to set the best possible time as early as possible, but it didn’t work out for you since you qualified 19th.

« Yes, it was quite complicated yesterday. We started during the first wet practice session where we didn’t have the pace. We weren’t too worried because we knew the rest of the weekend would be dry. We came here with a new setup compared to what we had in Barcelona and Monaco because it didn’t fit perfectly. So we tried something new. We went into qualifying without having tried it before. Clearly, the car has improved compared to what it was before. But with the rain that came, and then traffic in our quick lap, it ended up in a very, very poor performance. 19th here is not good. I think we have the pace to finish 6th, 7th, or 8th. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s still better than that. So it’s very disappointing. »

Starting from so far back on the grid, what are your expectations for the rest of the weekend?

« I have already started from further back on the grid and we have always found a way to get through and climb up. The good thing about GP2 is that if you manage to climb up to eighth place in the first race, you will have the opportunity to start on pole for the second. So that is what we are aiming for. Moreover, there are pit stops in this race. So with a good strategy, we know we have a car good enough to finish in the top 8. So with a good strategy, a good start, and a bit of luck, we can do it. So that must be our goal. »

In general, what are your goals for this season in GP2?

« Well, first of all, we missed a lot of practice sessions. We missed the first race. We only arrived in Bahrain and were immediately on pace. So our ambition is obviously to fight for the championship. Barcelona wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t so bad. In Monaco, we all know what happened, with fifteen cars crashing into each other at the first corner. So, it has been two challenging weekends, but the championship is still long. We must keep fighting for the championship because even though we missed the preseason testing and the first race, we have what it takes to compete. »

Speaking of the beginning of the year. Initially, it was planned for you to become a reserve driver for Caterham F1 and participate in a number of Friday morning test sessions, without any competition program on the side. Since then, an internal reorganization has allowed you to join the GP2 championship starting in Bahrain, where you immediately finished third in your first race.

Actually, that was done at the last minute. As you mentioned, I was supposed to be a reserve driver and drive on Friday morning. Then Caterham came with the opportunity to race in GP2. Obviously, I’m here to race. So I jumped at the chance. It’s what I love and it’s what people want to see me do. So when I was offered it, I went for it. It was unexpected.

For you, what is more important between competing in GP2 and the testing sessions in F1?

« I think that, ultimately, the most important thing is to be in an F1. Even if GP2 has tires similar to F1, it’s still not an F1 car. The tires will, therefore, behave differently. An F1 is so different from anything else that can be done. Since testing is very limited, you must seize any opportunity to be at the wheel of an F1, even if it’s just for two or three laps because it can only help you improve your driving. »

You spent two years in Formula Renault 3.5 and now you’re in GP2. What differences do you see between the two, whether in terms of the car or the environment?

The main difference is that in World Series, you have much more track time than in GP2 but, at the same time, you’re not with F1! So even if you spend more time on the track, and you are the main event, you are not as much in the spotlight. So if you succeed in GP2, it will be more noticed by F1 than if you succeed in World Series.

Regarding the car, I think the World Series single-seater is a better package because you’re on Michelin tires. This means you have more time to develop the car and your driving because the performance holds for more than just one or two laps. So for a driver, the World Series is more fun, but GP2 is the best preparation for F1. So even if it annoys everyone, it’s something you need to know how to handle if you want a serious chance at being considered for F1.

Beyond your involvement in F1 and GP2, last weekend, you also experienced endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Caterham Motorsport. This led you to go to Canada for the Friday morning session before immediately catching a flight to be on time for the practice sessions at Le Mans. Even though you finished eleventh in the LMP2 category due to numerous technical issues during the race, you impressed by managing many very fast laps without making mistakes. Tell us about your feelings regarding this new experience.

To be honest, I arrived at Le Mans without expecting anything in particular: I’ve never done endurance racing, I’ve never watched endurance racing on TV, I’ve never done anything like that before. I knew nothing about it. I was a bit lost. I was wondering what I needed to do. But when I got to try the car, I really enjoyed myself. The Le Mans circuit is one of my favorites. Being able to be on track with so many different cars, driving at night, it’s really something fascinating. During the race itself, I hated it: you can’t sleep, it’s uncomfortable, it’s long… But in the end, when you take a step back, look at what you’ve done, you wonder when you’ll do it again! If I have the opportunity to do it again, I would do it without hesitation! But I maintain that F1 remains the best there is. So that must remain my goal 100%.

Tim Greaves, the team partner director of Caterham Motorsport, praised you following your performance by stating that it would be necessary to convince your sponsors to allow you to return to endurance racing so that you could compete for victory there. Is that something that interests you in the coming years, or is single-seater racing and F1 still your top priority?

To be honest, I remain focused on F1. If someone offers me to do it again, 100% okay to do it. But as for doing the WEC, the World Endurance Championship, not really. I think I prefer to focus on GP2 and F1.

Precisely, regarding your single-seater program, at the beginning of the season, for your third season with the Caterham family, you moved from test driver to reserve driver for the team. How has this changed your integration into the F1 team?

« This changes everything! When you are a test driver, you are part of the team, but you’re more like the little brother, the child. You are part of the team, you can go everywhere, but there isn’t the same level of respect within the team and from other drivers. In fact, you aren’t really going to drive the car. But by becoming a reserve driver, you attend all the briefings, you develop a real relationship with the mechanics and engineers because you are truly part of the team’s driver lineup. Because if Giedo or Charles has a problem, it’s you who will be in the car! So you have to be part of the team. It’s something special for me because it’s the first year I felt like I was really part of an F1 team, like I’m part of the paddock. As this has always been my goal since I was a child, to get that first foot in F1, it’s something extremely motivating in what I do to become even more involved and to have a permanent seat in F1. »

Last year, when I met your predecessor Giedo van der Garde, he told me that his clear objective was F1 with Caterham by the next season. This has since materialized. Is that your goal as well? What are your prospects for the future?

100% the same goal for me! The problem with F1 is that it’s very difficult to predict what will happen in the future. I’ve been with Caterham since 2011 and have progressed gradually. Now the final goal is to put on the starting suit.

From our special correspondent in Silverstone