Giuliano Alesi

Whilst Formula Two are yet to start their new season due to the on-going Coronavirus pandemic, we have caught up with HWA Racelab’s  Giuliano Alesi to discuss his career so far.

From growing up in and around Formula One as the son of ex Ferrari star – Jean Alesi, Giuliano was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as he discusses what it’s like to be the son of an ex F1 driver and what it is like progressing up the motorsport ladder. 

Giuliano also offers his thoughts on what it’s like to have a home race even though F2 isn’t racing there this season, prior to yesterday’s announcement that this year’s French Grand Prix is off.

 

• With ex Ferrari star Jean Alesi as your father, how easy of a decision was it to follow in his footsteps and enter motorsport?

Alesi; “Growing up and since a kid, I obviously as a child idolised my father and growing up, I always knew what his job was and what he achieved in life, so it was in a way always a passion for motorsport and it grew on me the more I started to learn about motorsport and the more I liked it and was interested in making it my future job. 

“My father really helped me to where I am today because obviously without him, I would’t be here. He has helped me with so much throughout the years, guiding me and helping me in certain situations.

“Most of the job now I know is is mine, its my job known I am fully committed to what I have to do so obviously, he had a part, a big part of that helping me, a big influence on me but my passion is motorsport and it will always be motorsport.”

 

• Your karting career didn’t bring much success in terms of championships so how surprised were you to enjoy a success single seater racing debut season in the 2015 French F4 Championship?

Alesi; “I only did two years of karting in which my objective of karting was to build the experienced understand the ins and outs from qualifying, race, strategy and etc. because i didn’t really know anything when I arrived in karting.

“I started at 15 years-old competing at international level against people who had started driving at about four to five years-old, so was really difficult and tough for me because that is what I learned the most so am really thankful for it. 

“After I completed my first season in Formula Four (F4), we were all at an equal level so I knew that I could deliver really good results which I did. 

“Looking back, and I couldn’t put better myself but there is always something that you can do to improve yourself but other than that for a first junior category year, I was quite satisfied.”

 

• A move to GP3 soon followed with constant improvement throughout your three seasons in that tier. Looking back now, how big of a learning curve was it racing in GP3 with just one one Feature Race podium compared to seven Sprint podiums?

Alesi; “Back in GP3, I obviously was lacking a lot of experience so was quite a difficult debut season in the category because I was learning about everything basically in a different world to when I was driving F4.

“But I was in with the big guys which forced me automatically and unconsciously to to be more mature than the age that I was, because for three consecutive years, I was the youngest GP3 driver, so the learning curve was huge and there was so much to learn throughout all three seasons. 

“In the first year, I unfortunately had a lot of technical issues that limited the results, then I did better in the second and third years so there is something a little strange about that. 

“Obviously I could of improved myself but in general, the third years not a big year though, because the second year was the best one for me but GP3 has helped me so much to learn about racing and to learn about myself and driving.

Really, it has helped me so much and to build my experience on that and I honestly felt very privileged to do that, so yeah I think I did quite well in GP3 and now my focus is on Formula Two (F2).”

 

• This season sees you make the switch to HWA Racelab to end a four-season collaboration with Trident. What are your expectations from this season and particularly given that you won’t be racing in France this year?

Alesi; “I ended four years with Trident and am now starting a new chapter with HWA which I am super excited about because I’ve done three days in Abu Dhabi in post-season testing and pre-season testing in Bahrain, and unfortunately due to the conditions [Coronavirus], we now can’t do more like was planned. 

“Until now, I felt confident and in a good place with the team because we get along super well and I feel by working closely with them, we can do a really good job so my main objective now is to work as closely as possible with my new team – HWA. 

“Obviously not racing in France is always a bit sad because that is where I am from. It’s a home race and feels lucky to have a home race but not being able to do it is in a way a little sad. 

“My focus is so much on the team and I am building myself that not thinking about the French Grand Prix is not a priority my mind, which will for sure one day be because racing in France is always a privilege like I raced last year and the year before.

“It was just an amazing experience.”

 

• Finally, what are your ambitions for the future and particularly if you don’t reach F1?

Alesi; “My ambitions right now is to do the best that I can in F2 with HWA and obviously my dream is to become a Formula One (F1) driver and be champion.

“It’s close and far away at the same time so my main focus is just F2 and I haven’t thought about anything else really, not even F1 to be honest. My main objective is just F2.”