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Varrone aiming to maximise ‘unexpected’ P6 after best F2 Qualifying in Miami
Van Amersfoort Racing’s Nico Varrone was one of the stand-out performers in Miami, earning P6 in just his second Formula 2 Qualifying session.
The Argentinian driver set a 1:40.204 to wind up just 0.3s off pole position, and in a position he admits was unexpected going into the Qualifying half hour.
Speaking in the paddock after the session, the VAR driver says it was a positive day and that he was pleased he and the team could maximise a strong start to the weekend.
“It's really nice actually to be driving here in Miami,” Varrone started. “It's such a cool track. It’s quite tricky with how hot it is and it’s quite difficult for the driver to manage the tyres during the lap.
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“We had a good Free Practice to be honest. Everyone was so close, but we knew where we could improve. But everyone has something to prove, and we also made some changes in the car setup-wise.
“The qualifying was quite good. The first lap was solid. I was able on the second set to do a clean lap, and we were P6 in my second ever F2 qualifying. So, happy to be in the top 10, and let's build on it from here.”
He conceded that it was an unexpected result given the changes the team made between Practice and Qualifying, both to improve the car and to adapt to the track conditions and change in compound.
“You change from Medium to Supersoft, so it's always a tricky thing, you don't know what to expect.
“I knew it was going to be close, so I knew I needed to complete a clean lap because a small mistake can really put you at the back. I feel like this championship is really up and down sometimes, with qualifying and how things go.”
Varrone’s lack of experience in F2 was somewhat cancelled out with Miami being a brand-new venue to all of the paddock, teams and drivers.
He was happy to make his early experiences of the Championship count and says his adaptation process is still ongoing, but results like these provide great encouragement moving forward.
“Coming from another background in endurance racing, GTs, prototypes, this is such a different way of driving. So, I'm really putting a lot of effort in and a lot of dedication to be at the right level.
“I am trying to reduce the gap of all these years that I didn't do single seaters. So, I'm happy that everything seems to be paying off and it's a good motivation for the next races and for the race for the weekend.
“For me the biggest difference to what I've driven and what I'm used to is the braking efficiency of this car. Like how late you can brake and how hard you can be on the brakes. That's something I'm still learning, I'm getting used to it.
“But, this track is amazing, sector one with high-speed corners. Then the last sector with such a different style and technique, really slow, kind of like Monaco, it has everything. It’s really fun to drive, demands a lot from the driver and for the setup of the car.”
Looking ahead to the Sprint Race on Saturday, Varrone says he is aiming to fight for a podium result as he goes from fifth on the grid, with the rostrum places well within reach.
The Van Amersfoort driver added that he’s expecting an action-filled race, with the Miami International Autodrome featuring three DRS activation points that lead into heavy braking zones.
“We're in a good spot. The run to Turn 1 is quite challenging here as we've seen in F1 over the last few years. But I’ll just try to have a good start, position myself well and then build the race from there.
“I feel like with the heat and the amount of heat on the track and ambient, it will make it tricky for the tyres. So I think it's going to be an exciting race.
“Also long straights, DRS – I think it's going to be quite challenging. But let's see. Hopefully we can fight for the podium. It would be nice to finish on the podium.”