The first guest of the "Interviews" section is Tonio. The motoring expert content creator, who boasts more than 30.000 subscribers on Youtube, spoke exclusively to our microphones to analyze the start of the new Formula One season.
Here are his statements:
We are veterans of the first two races of the season: did you expect such a good start?
“For now we are on the road to a 2021 2.0, with one difference: instead of having Hamilton battling Verstappen we have Leclerc, which is obviously very, very nice.”
What about the duel between Verstappen-Leclerc? What is amazing you?
“I didn't expect so much rationality between them. It's true that we're only at the first two races, so maybe it's not worth giving in, but just because we're in the first two Grands Prix, giving in isn't a big problem. I was expecting more of a messed up fight between them, rather than attention to detail. I thought I'd see more clashes, contacts, as among other things they themselves are used to it and instead they're playing it cleanly and this only makes everything more spectacular”.
We're talking about two riders who have matured a lot over the years, what do you think is due to it and how much can it make a difference?
” Leclerc suffered. In this case we can say that pain changes people. It had to carry a legacy that has been going on since 2020. Seeing your name in the fifteenth box means that, due to the results obtained, you could be the worst Ferrari driver. But now, with the car available, he's ready: he studies everything and doesn't want to throw away any opportunity. As far as Verstappen is concerned, I think that on a mental level he has an advantage, also because he is back not from a world championship, but from a world championship, and this helps a lot ”.q”
Coming to the first analyzes on the new season: did you expect this Ferrari?
"Yes. I expected. I have been saying and arguing since January because Ferrari could do what it is now demonstrating. I remember when in February he started posting Mercedes-style posts. So there I wondered why they were getting so out of balance, after almost years of press silence. I understood then that they had something in hand. In terms of feeling, I tell you that I expected it, also because they practically threw away 2021 without ever developing the car precisely with a view to 2022".
A hot topic is linked to the Leclerc-Sainz driver duo. For you, does Ferrari already have a first driver?
“They both start on equal footing, but I think we've already figured out who is the first driver. Until Sainz brings home the first race, I find it too difficult to consider him a world championship driver. He still has to take that decisive step to win. So I tell you: if Sainz manages to frame the car now, it becomes dangerous but as long as Leclerc stays in front I don't see him dying for him".
Coming to the political aspect for a moment… how do you evaluate what happened in Jeddah?
“I am disappointed by the hypocrisy of the FIA in general. There is a lot of morality about the war between Russia and Ukraine, but then you race in a circuit where another war is going on and they didn't give a damn. It was a really, really bad thing. However, I was pleased to hear Ben Sulayem say, I think, but I don't want to be wrong: 'We are here with our families'. It was a statement, which he said in public, comes across as very strong. Then it was said that there were two planes above the circuit to view everything, but it's a matter of principle: you didn't have to run from the start, don't wait for the missile”.
Coming to Red Bull, how much do Honda's reliability problems scare Verstappen?
“Don't worry I certainly wouldn't. I think Ferrari must be watering for this situation. It also happened to Bottas, but we're still 1 against 4. In Bahrain there were difficulties for Red Bull too, but I think that right now it's AlphaTauri that is disappointing: I can't give myself a precise reason, it's a situation very delicate and above all we still know too little".
Problems that Mercedes also encountered. Will they be able to recover?
"It's complicated. I remember reading that it was easy to focus more on reliability than on performance. And in fact, at least in this respect, Mercedes has never given problems. But at the same time I've heard it said that it was better to focus on a more performing car, even if it was slightly less reliable. There was a bit of panic in my mind: I've always thought that if you have a reliable car, by developing it, you can reduce the gap; but I don't know, I have a strong doubt about it. In any case, I think they will remain highly competitive in the end. We are all waiting for Imola, where the first real updates are expected and then we'll talk about it…”.
Also because the money is not infinite given the budget cap…
“The money runs out sooner or later. Also because from what I know, I've been told that Ferrari doesn't have a lot of money to spend on future developments, given the almost exhausted budget cap. I thought from the first moment that, if the news were true, Ferrari would do everything to win the first races… and so it's going. So: I don't see the Reds badly, Red Bull is somewhere in between, while Mercedes really has a lot to spend. Clearly, sooner or later the money will run out, but there are those who can still spend it and those who have already done so”.
Coming instead to the other teams: which team is disappointing you so far?
“I tell you AlphaTauri, for reliability reasons. McLaren surprised me quite a bit: the Barcelona tests had gone well, while now the collapse is quite substantial. So yeah, I was disappointed but I didn't expect that much either. Now it's Norris' time: he must be decisive for keeping the team. While on AlphaTauri I thought it could still be as competitive as in previous years, also because having Gasly is synonymous with certainty... instead, at least for now, it doesn't seem like it".
Next stop in Melbourne, Australia. What are your expectations?
“I see Ferrari still ahead. As podium I tell you: Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz. We're talking about a slightly more Ferrari track. For Mercedes, on the other hand, we are still waiting for Imola".
