What attracted you first to the world of motorsport?
«My passion for motorsport was passed down to me by my family. My father and my uncle often went at a racetrack riding a minibike; I asked my father to buy me one for my birthday and I was satisfied».
You started racing very young, but on minibikes. What pushed you towards karting?
«The transition to karting happened after my father saw I started going fast on the minibike. To change my mind, he thought of pulling me over on the grass while we were running: I was scared, but he still thought of letting me try a kart on the circuit, I remember it was a 50cc Easy Training. It was love at first sight».
How did you meet Giovanni Minardi and how did he affect your career?
«I met Giovanni through my dad: he initially contacted him after discovering Minardi Management. At first he didn’t answer, but he contacted us later and we signed the contract after I was examined by one of his scouts in Siena. For me he’s essential, because he has years of experience in motorsport. He’s an important point of reference for my career and will be for a long time. I hope our collaboration can last as long as possible».
How did your perception of F1 change after you started racing in F4?
«The moment I switched to Formula, I appreciated the world of single-seaters and Formula 1 more. I thought that, especially with today’s cars, driving was easier, but I changed my mind after trying a Formula 4: I realized how difficult it is to be quick in a single-seater and how much work you have to do to prepare for a test or a race».
What is one lesson you learned in the paddock that you can apply in your daily life?
«An important lesson that the paddock gave me is to always smile even in the face of difficulties, because getting down doesn’t solve anything. You always have to believe in what you do».
You play the drums in your free time. What kind of music do you play and listen to?
«I play the drums in my free time, it’s my second passion after racing. Playing such an instrument, I really appreciate rock: it’s a kind of music with which I can let off steam, even if I listen to all genres».
Which movie describes you best?
«“Rush”, because it represents my passion for motorsport».
This year, in the Italian GT, you fulfilled 3 dreams: becoming a racing driver, driving a Ferrari and racing in Imola. What’s the next dream?
«It’s been a beautiful and important year for me. Rather than dreams, I would like to define them as “goals”, those that I have set myself and achieved. The next steps set are to always improve, to win as many races as possible and to try to compete for a championship».
When can you consider yourself satisfied with your career?
«I’ll be satisfied when I retire (laughs, ed). I have to give my best until the last moment of my career, I hope I can be proud of what I have done».
What legacy do you want to leave in motorsport?
«I hope to become somebody, so I can leave a legacy in motorsport (laughs, ed). What I recommend to all the young people who follow me is to smile at the difficulties, my family has always taught me to look at the glass half full. Using difficulty as a lesson to be able to find motivation: a mistake is not negative, but an event useful to grow to become stronger».
Author: Jacopo Rava
