Hungarian Grand Prix Preview 3 - 5 August 2007
This week's Hungarian Grand Prix will mark the start of the
Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team's new driver line-up
of Adrian Sutil and Sakon Yamamoto.
Twenty-five year-old Sakon, from Toyohashi, Japan, made his
Formula 1 debut at his home Grand Prix in Suzuka with Spyker's
predecessors, Jordan, in 2005. This season Sakon has been
racing in the GP2 series with BCN Competition, but steps up
to Spyker with a considerable amount of F1 experience after
making his race debut at the 2006 German Grand Prix with Super
Aguri.
Team Q&A
Colin Kolles, team principal and managing director
A new driver line-up for the second Grand Prix in a row! What
made you go for Sakon?
Sakon is a very good all-round package. We were very clear
that the driver we chose needed to bring a certain financial
benefit, but needed to have good, relevant experience too.
Sakon has both covered. He has driven on all of the circuits
we are going to in the second half of the season, except for
Spa, which will be an advantage to the team as we move forward.
Will Sakon race in all the races this year?
Yes, Sakon has a permanent place in the team from now until
the end of the season. As a team we are permitted four driver
changes over the course of a season, and we have run four
drivers, including Sakon, now.
Do you think Adrian Sutil and Sakon be a strong pairing?
Yes, I would like to think so. Adrian has experience of the
car and is very well-integrated in the team, while Sakon has
experience of the circuits we go to now. On a personal level,
they are also both eager to do well and demonstrate they can
race at the highest level of motorsport. This kind of hunger
and enthusiasm can only be good for us as this is when a driver
gets the most out of the car.
How would you react to claims that two driver changes
in as many races destabilises the team?
I don't think it has. Anyone who came to the Nurburgring saw
the impact Markus had - we had more TV and press coverage
than we have had. And we led the race - for the first time
ever - so clearly it has had no impact on the race track.
I think with Sakon it will be the same, although we are not
expecting to lead again - those were very exceptional circumstances.
How did it feel to see the Spyker up there in P1?
Of course it was a good feeling. We might have been lucky
with the weather, but we got the strategy exactly right, which
was not down to luck, and Markus had a very controlled drive.
It shows that when all things are difficult, we can be on
top of it. When we get the new car, who knows what will happen
if the same situation happens again?
Will Markus Winkelhock remain the test and reserve
driver for the rest of the year?
Markus did an excellent job in the European Grand Prix, but
we were very clear that he was not, unfortunately, in a position
to be able to fill the seat until the end of the season. He
will continue in the role of reserve driver and attend races.
Obviously we know that if he does need to step up to race,
he will do a good job for us.
Sakon Yamamoto
How do you feel to be back racing in Formula 1?
It was a surprise to get the call from Spyker, but at the
same time I was, and still am, really glad to come back to
Formula 1. Obviously I haven't had a normal testing programme
this year, but I drove an F1 car in February, and I do not
think this will be a problem. I am excited to be back in a
race seat.
You have already raced on the circuits we are visiting
in the final part of the season. Is this an advantage for
you?
I know all the circuits quite well, except Spa-Francorchamps
where we didn't go last year. But last year I was in the situation
where I had to learn the circuits and the car very quickly,
so I think I will know this one quickly too. I am quite relaxed
going to this part of the season.
Which circuits did you enjoy last year and what are
you looking forward to this year?
Last year I enjoyed every race, but the ones that were just
fantastic were the Japanese Grand Prix, then Brazil. This
last race was especially good - I set the 7th quickest lap
in the race and then the second quickest sector time in sector
two, which we didn't expect at all! This was a great result
for us so I'm looking forward to going to Brazil again.
What will be your aims for the remainder of the season?
Of course I would like to be really quick, score points and
finish as many races as possible. The target though has got
to be to help Spyker score their first points.
Does it feel familiar to be back? You first got your
experience of F1 with the same team.
I tested for the team (although it was a different name then!)
back in 2005 and drove a Friday practice session in the Japanese
Grand Prix. It's an advantage as I know some of the engineers
and mechanics, so it's easy to get back into the team.
Event Features
In advance of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Etihad Aldar Spyker
Formula One Team has provided one feature for media use.
Spyker's Italian job
Spyker F1 is a British-based team with Dutch ownership, but
this year there's also a distinct Italian flavour in the mix
thanks to the engine supply deal with Ferrari. It's an arrangement
that has worked even better than anyone had anticipated.
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