Boschung expects rookies to adapt ‘quickly’ in Monaco, as he plays down past experience

Arriving in Monaco as one of just four drivers to have experience around the historic street track in Formula 2 machinery, Ralph Boschung won’t be allowing his familiarity of the circuit to turn into overconfidence, saying that he expects the rest of the grid to quickly get to grips with the unique track.

Boschung, Roy Nissany, Guanyu Zhou and Jack Aitken are the only members on the field to have raced around Monaco in F2 machinery before, but never on the 18-inch tyres, a factor that the Swiss racer feels will have an impact.

“I think that at the beginning it’s an advantage because I have the mileage in that car, even if it is on different tyres,” said Boschung. “Most of the time though, rookies are often better at the end of the year than most of the experienced guys, plus the simulator is so precise now.

“There are so many tools available, so the rookies can really practice and be on the top of their game in real life. At the beginning, in Free Practice, I think I will feel more comfortable than most of the guys on the grid. The question will be just how quickly are they able to adapt? Of course, I will try and use the advantage though, no doubt.

“The first time I went, I think I took a long time to adapt to be honest, much longer than I expected, but I had never driven a street circuit in my life beforehand. Whereas the drivers this year who have never driven Monaco before will probably have driven Macau in F3, which is also quite intense, so I’m expecting them to adapt more quickly than I did.”

Frustrated to have come away from Bahrain without any points, Boschung feels in a much stronger place for Round 2, citing the work put in by his Campos Racing team at the April test in Barcelona to get the car closer to his style.

The Swiss – who scored points at Monaco for the first time in F2 on his last appearance at the principality, finishing ninth in the Feature Race – says he cannot wait to try out his new and improved machinery around his “favourite circuit.”

“We had a pretty long to do list in the test, most of it was stuff that we wanted to try in Bahrain, but didn’t have the time to do properly,” said Boschung. “We managed to tick all of the boxes in Barcelona, and I think we improved the package for both quali and the races. I also feel I understand the 18-inch tyres better, which I had a little bit of trouble with in Bahrain, so I think it was a good step forward.

“I don’t want to speak too early, but I think we will see this in Monaco, even though it is a bit of a different circuit. Monaco is always a crazy weekend. Hopefully, I will have a little bit of luck on my side, which I have not had in the past in Monaco.

“Confidence is high, but not through the roof. In Bahrain, I think I went in with maybe too much confidence and then that was a proper slap in the face. I would say that I am confident, but I am keeping my feet on the ground.”

The punishing nature of the tight and twisting Monaco streets gives drivers little time to catch their breath around the 3.337km track, an element that will be exaggerated by the additional race on Saturday.

“I think street tracks in general I really like, but Monaco is definitely the highlight,” continued Boschung. “I’m full of adrenaline the whole weekend. I think it’s the fact that you have such a small margin of error. Pushing to the limit, especially in qualifying, you feel so alive because if you make the slightest error, you pay for it big time.

“It’s just the sense of a bit more danger, which brings more adrenaline and that’s what I like. The circuit being so technical as well, there is not a lot of resting time throughout the lap, and that is something else that I really enjoy.

“The whole atmosphere of the weekend makes it even nicer, being right in the city. Obviously, it will be a bit different with the restrictions that are in place this year, but it will still be amazing.”