Interview
Fittipaldi on why a slow start was the catalyst to earning his first points
A slow start to the second Sprint Race proved to be a saving grace for Enzo Fittipaldi, who says he’d have gotten caught up in the four-car collision at Turn 1 had he not lost places off the line. Instead, the Charouz Racing System driver went on to score his first Formula 2 points, finishing seventh.
The Brazilian endured a difficult Qualifying session on Friday and started Saturday afternoon from 18th, but he made up six places and started the second race from 12th.
But as he set off around the Jeddah Circuit, he watched on as his teammate Guilherme Samaia was involved in the first lap collision with Marcus Armstrong, Clément Novalak and Alessio Deledda.
“It was very chaotic. I had a really, really bad start and lost three positions,” said Fittipaldi when asked about the opening lap. “There was a big crash in front of me, right where I would have been if I had gotten an okay start.
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“I had fallen back, and in the end, I actually think I got pretty lucky with that, because if I had gotten a good start then I’d have been sent off in that at Turn 1.”
Since stepping up from Formula 3 in Monza, Fittipaldi has twice gone close to scoring points, with 11th in the Italian Feature Race and 12th in the Sunday race at Sochi, and he was pleased to finally reward the team for their efforts since he made his debut.
“I am extremely happy, and I want to thank the whole team for all of the hard work that they've been doing in the past three rounds,” said Fittipaldi. “It has been an amazing experience to be a part of this team and to make the jump from Formula 3 to Formula 2 with them.
“We’ve had great pace this weekend. Qualifying just didn't go the way that we wanted it to. But we had a lot more potential than that and I was able to show that potential in the races today, going from P18 to P12 in Race 1, with really good pace and the fourth-fastest lap in the race.
“Then in Race 2, going from P12 to P9 and then getting P7 after the penalties. I am extremely happy with the points and now I'm looking forward to tomorrow. That is one achievement done. The next would definitely be a podium.”
The wait for that podium is likely to go on for at least another week, however, as Fittipaldi will have to start back in 18th for the Feature Race.
Yet, the Brazilian will line up with the added confidence from his moves in the opening two races and is hoping he can tussle his way back into the points.
“I think we showed really good pace in the two Sprint Races, and it is going to be a long race. The strategy will be really important, and the goal is to just move forward and make up positions. I think that I can only move forwards from where I am.
“Hopefully I will have a great start and get into the top 10, but we will see. It is not easy to overtake here, you have got to get your elbows out and risk it because it’s a street circuit. You’ve got to make some late moves and lunges, that’s the only way to get by in Jeddah.”