PRE-SEASON INTERVIEW WITH KAZUKI NAKAJIMA
2008 marks your debut season as a Formula One driver, you
must be excited?
I’m really excited! I’ve done a lot of work over
the winter with my engineers and it’s all gone well.
The car also feels good so I’m positive. Having already
raced in the Brazilian Grand Prix last year, I feel a bit
more relaxed going into the season because I’ve experienced
a race weekend before and know exactly what is expected of
me.
What are your objectives for the year ahead?
As it’s my debut season, it’s difficult to talk
about results but obviously I want to do my best in every
race. It’s my first year in Formula One so it won’t
be easy to get everything right first time, so my objective
is to make good progress and enjoy the races.
What preparations have you undertaken over the winter to
ensure you are fully prepared?
I’ve been working really hard over the winter, particularly
on my training, focussing on cardio work and improving my
neck strength. I’ve also been working out in some hotter
climates to prepare myself for places like Malaysia. I’ve
spent a lot of time with my engineers, at the track and at
the factory, to make sure I get my consistency right. Improving
my English has also been a priority!
How much work has it taken to get to Formula One?
Everyone knows it’s really difficult to get into Formula
One. I raced in GP2 last year and then in F3 the year before
that. I just made sure I did my best in GP2, and performing
well in those races helped. Doing a good job when I raced
for the team in Brazil last year probably worked in my favour
too.
Like Nico and Keke, your father was also an F1 driver. How
much of a role has he played in your career?
Firstly, I have to say that it’s primarily because
of him that I ever had an interest in racing. If he hadn’t
been a driver, I probably would have been doing something
else now. So from that point of view, he’s been fundamental.
On a practical level, he’s now always there to offer
advice, but he hasn’t been hovering over my shoulder!
Williams will celebrate a number of landmarks this year,
notably 500 GPs. What does it mean to you to make your career
debut with a team with such a strong heritage in the sport?
Williams is a great team with a long and successful history.
For me, it’s really special to be making my debut with
them because I can learn so much from their experience. It’s
also like one big family. Everyone loves what they do and
has just one aim and that is to race, so as a driver it’s
one of the best teams to be with.
You were the team’s test driver in 2007 so had experience
of the FW29. Is the FW30 an improvement?
It’s definitely a step forward. When I drove the FW30
for the first time in Valencia at the start of January, I
could tell the difference from the FW29 straight away and
my initial feelings were really positive. We also have some
updates planned for Melbourne which should also take us further
forward.
What are your expectations for the team this year?
It’s really difficult to predict. One thing is clear
and that is that Ferrari and McLaren are still ahead of us,
but the midfield is really close so it’s going to be
a big fight among those teams and we’re in that group.
One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a great
season so, if we do well, it will be well deserved.
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