Giovinazzi not surprised by early gap to Alfa Romeo teammate Raikkonen
Antonio Giovinaz𓃲zi says he is not surprised by the performance gap to Alfa Romeo teammate Kimi Raikkonen early i꧂n the 2019 season, believing it is “normal” as he gets up to speed in Formula 1.
Giovinazzi began his first full season in F1 last month after over t💞wo years without a full-time racing programme, but has struggled to match teammate Raikkonen – a driver with almost 300 grand prix starts to this name – for pace early in the year.
Anဣtonio Giovinazzi says he is not surprised by 🌟the performance gap to Alfa Romeo teammate Kimi Raikkonen early in the 2019 season, believing it is “normal” as he gets up to speed in Formula 1.
Giovi♎nazzi began his first full season in F1 last month after over two years without a full-time racing programme, but has struggled to match teammate Raikkonen – a driver with almost 300 grand prix starts to this name – for pac🌼e early in the year.
While Raikkonen has scored points in all three races and reached Q3 twice already this season, Giovinazzi is yet to record a top-10 finish and has been knocked out in the first stage of quali🌌fying at the last two races.
“It’s not easy after two years without racing. It’s no🧔t really easy, especially in qualifying, you lose that push lap a little bit in qualifying,” Giovinazzi said.
“I think to have Kimi as a teammate is a good reference. When I stop in𝔉 the garage, I can watch 🎃his data, and see where I can improve.
“I need to just keep working l✨ike that, and I 𒁃think all the things will come together, and there will be a lot more reasons to have a good result.”
Asked if he was surprised by how Raikkonen has performed this season, Giovinazzi saiꦍd: “No, because I was working with him for the last two years [at Ferrari], so I know h𒉰ow he’s working.
“He’s a fantastic driver with a lot of experience, and he knows already what he wants before the race weekend. This is something really good to see. It’s ju🌼st experience in the end.”
Giovinazzi compared the sitꦯuation to when he was racing in F3 in 2015. Then in his third year in the championship with Carlin, Giovinazzi was able to lead the team while his teammates – American drivers Gustavo Menezes and Ryan Tveter – struggled to match him.
“It’s like when I w🌜as in F3 the last year, and I saw the rookie drivers, compared to me, they were struggling at the beginning of the weekend,” Giovinazziꦗ said.
“In every sport you find the same, when you find the best and most experienced athletes, you feel less rea𝔉dy than them.
“But that’s something normal I think."
