“It’s the same kind of thinking” – Nissany on switching between F1 and F2 and how it benefits him

Roy Nissany has taken part in more Formula 1 Free Practice sessions than any other Formula 2 driver in the past 18 months, participating in four race weekends for Williams since joining their academy programme in January 2021.

The DAMS’ racer most recently ran for the British team in FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix, in place of George Russell, and feels that he is able to express himself more with every appearance in the car.

“After quite a lot of mileage in the car last year, driving in the first day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain this year, and a lot, a lot, a lot of simulator mileage, I am quite confident with the team and with the car,” said Nissany.

“It feels like a more natural habitat now. It feels good because I can stretch the limits a bit more. I know the car so much better now and I can express myself better.

“Even though the team were very happy with the pace that I showed in Barcelona, as was I, I don’t think that is the main focus of the work when I am in an FP1. It is more about the possibility of putting the car in its limits, and then providing the team with the best information to help them to improve the car.”

As well as benefitting Williams, Nissany feels that his experiences in their machinery can benefit him in F2 as well. The Israeli scored his best finish in the Championship in Monaco, taking a maiden podium in Sprint Race 1 and then P9 in the Feature Race.

“Sometimes it can help you,” he continued. “They have such great engineering tools and such great engineers, and they have all of these resources that we don’t have in F2.

“It is great to get this information. It can help you to learn about the behaviours of the tyres for example. Even though it is not the same compound, it is the same kind of thinking, so I can take things from that. I have to make my head work for it, but absolutely it’s a help.”