Shwarztman’s St. Petersburg spectacular: The PREMA driver constructs his own F2 race

3 May 2021

We hand the reigns over to Robert Shwartzman who crafts a brand-new addition to the Formula 2 calendar. Choosing everything from the country, to the celebrity that he would invite, the PREMA Racing driver creates a new race weekend.

WHERE WOULD THE RACE BE HELD?

“Russia. It would have to be a home race, there is nothing better than being at home. I would have it in St. Petersburg, my home city. If you could build the racetrack around my house then that would be great… Get out of the house, open the door and ‘oh, I am here, let’s drive.’

“I would love the racetrack to go into the centre of St. Petersburg at some point too because it is beautiful. The view is amazing in the evening time. That would be really nice.”

Shwartzman says he would hold the race at his home city in St. Petersburg

HOW WOULD THE TRACK BE LAID OUT?

“I would have a mixture of a street track and a city track. That would be cool. Some corners and a straight in the city, but then some which are in open space, surrounded by grass and that sort of thing.

“I would take Ascari from Monza, which is a really cool. I would also take the Bus Stop chicane from Spa and then Turn 15 from Silverstone, Stowe. Turns 6 and 7 from Barcelona, where you go up, and the hairpin from Hockenheim. It is going to be very narrow, very twisty.

“Now we need some fast corners. Let’s go with Arrabbiata from Mugello - that would be crazy. I would also love to have some tunnels in there, very short tunnels, somewhere on the main straight.”

Shwartzman describes his track as "very narrow, very twisty."

DAY OR NIGHT?

“I would have Qualifying during the day, around noon, and then the race when the sun is setting. The race would take place in either June or July. We have the white nights in Russia, where the skies only reach twilight and never complete darkness, so that would be incredible to see during a race.”

WET OR DRY?

“Dry. I don't like the rain in St Peterburg, it gets too cold.”

WHICH CELEBRITY WOULD YOU INVITE TO THE RACE?

“I would invite Will Smith. 100%. If possible, I would try and get a whole group of celebrities together though.”