Giovinazzi: Returning to racing after gap year 'not easy'

  • Published on 18 Sep 2019 14:00
  • comments 2
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Antonio Giovinazzi says returning to racing after time on the sidelines is not easy, as he believes he has developed over the course of the 2019 season.

After finishing runner-up to Pierre Gasly in the 2016 Formula 2 championship, Giovinazzi raced at the opening two rounds of the 2017 Formula 1 season for Sauber, stepping in for an injured Pascal Wehrlein.

However, he did not race again until he signed for Alfa Romeo for the 2019 campaign.

Giovinazzi has two top-ten finishes to his name, taking his best result last time out at his home race in Italy by crossing the line in ninth place - one week after crashing out on the final lap while running in ninth place at the Belgian Grand Prix. 

While the 25-year-old says that the team has done well to develop the car over the last six months, he has cited some personal improvements as the reasoning behind his recent performances 

"I spent two years without racing and to come back after two years and into F1 is not easy. From my side, it was a big improvement, also the team did a lot of improvements as well.

"There was a lot of them that showed that in the end, we could have good pace. So we just need to keep working like this. I think we are on the right way."

Giovinazzi 'working well' with veteran Raikkonen

Partnered with Kimi Raikkonen this year, the Finnish driver has scored 31 of Alfa Romeo's 34 points so far in 2019.

Giovinazzi believes he is benefitting from driving alongside an experienced teammate such as Raikkonen, who knows what he wants from a weekend. 

"He's a driver with a lot of experience," Giovinazzi commented. "He knows already before the weekend starts what he wants, at which track. During the weekend, he's always there. 

"From my side, it's really difficult because he will never [make a] mistake, he will put the car where the car, or where the potential of the car will be. 

"He's able to put it all together, I'm working really well together with him and I try to give the same feedback to the team to improve the car." 

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Gio has been underperforming all year. He seems to have massively improved in the last couple of races. But even in those races I haven't been overly impressed. Midfield driver at best. He's definitely making Kimi look pretty hot and we know well how far behind top drivers Kimi is (vs. Seb and vs. Fernando)

    • + 0
    • Sep 18 2019 - 20:09
    • Agreed, Sterdust is left wanting. I don't see anything I wouldn't have seen with any other driver.

      • + 0
      • Sep 19 2019 - 15:46

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 21
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 62
  • Country Italy
  • Date of b. Dec 14 1993 (29)
  • Place of b. Martina Franca, Italy
  • Weight 63 kg
  • Length 1.83 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar