A non-stop on his Twitch channel until dawn, so Amos Laurito, Streamer, Content Creator, Sim Driver and Analyst of the Ferrari Esports team inaugurated the return of Formula 1 to Australia. The adrenaline is high as well as the questions we have been asking ourselves since these 2022 single-seaters made their debut in Bahrain. Red Bull and Ferrari, Max and Charles, is it theirs, the challenge this year? We asked Amos, who, in a long chat, also told us what his ideal team would be for Fanta F1.
Hi Amos! Finally back to Australia. Happy with this comeback?
“I am extremely happy. Formula 1, since I followed it as a child, began with the race in Melbourne and even if now I'm a little less happy with how it has become, I'm happy that it's back to racing on the other side of the world.”
Well, you said you're less happy with how she's become. What do you think of the layout changes and the decision to introduce 4 DRS zones in Melbourne?
“It has never happened in the history of Formula 1 and it is something crazy. These single-seaters have already shown that they can keep up with the others more easily but despite this they decide to put 4 DRS zones to increase the possibility of overtaking. They are so scared to see a Melbourne that statistically is second last for overtaking, only 28 from 2009 to today, and I understand that there is fear because they are second only to Monaco for this, but honestly I think it is exaggerated.
There will also be another return to Melbourne. That of your favorite driver, Sebastian Vettel, who due to being positive for Covid-19 had not yet made his debut in a GP this season. What weekend do you expect from him?
“That I'm going to feel so sorry for Seb! I'm extremely happy that he's back, he's a driver who is missed, but unfortunately I think he will suffer another shortcoming, that of the Aston Martin's performance. We need a rider like Seb in the paddock and I'm absolutely convinced that he can do well because it's a track that he really likes and that he knows really well. However, we need to understand where he can take Aston Martin, the updates will come later, even if he will give his best."
Speaking instead of Ferrari: he won 78 points out of the 88 available. A truly surprising result. Compared to previous years, is there a different atmosphere in Maranello?
"Absolutely. Consider that they had 4 podium finishes in 2 races while last year they had 5 podium finishes all season, so that was a big step forward. But above all what I can see in Maranello is that the support is hotter and hotter and you can also see the optimism and calm of those who work there. Which, since I've been living there for 3 years now, I had never seen before, while now I see more care and tranquility. I'm blown away by how they manage to keep their composure and focus right now, keeping their heads down and working through this last year mostly.”
Last year Lewis and Max. Is it Charles and Max in a league of their own this year?
"I think so. We will only be able to see a duel between new generations, therefore Leclerc and Verstappen. Verstappen is the same as in the fight with Lewis, in my opinion it hasn't changed since last year. Last year, however, Max could allow himself a few more moves on Hamilton because he belongs to a different school of thought, apart from Silverstone he is a clean driver and has a different way of acting when it comes to defending and attacking, while with Charles , Max knows he can't joke because they've known each other for many years, it's a fight that we see now but that has been going on for at least 10, 12 years"
And the Mercedes?
“Mercedes will not be able to recover 7 tenths from one day to the next, even with updates. He will already bring some to Australia, other bigger ones may arrive at Imola and Spain, but I don't think they'll manage to take away 7/XNUMX, or rather Red Bull and Ferrari won't let them. Plus we don't even know if they'll be able to solve all these problems they have. I would have liked to see Hamilton battling with Max and Charles but he can't do much more with the car he has at the moment. Russell took a step forward but nothing more, he left a Williams in clear trouble this year and still found something better. ”
Are there any teams currently in the middle of the standings that could aspire to victories?
“This year there is a much clearer and more marked difference compared to last year, and it's a shame because every 10 laps in these 2 Grands Prix I looked at the standings and noticed that apart from the first two teams, the others were 15, 20 seconds in the case of Mercedes, and over 30 from 10th place onwards. Therefore, a race with a red flag would be needed, races with the Safety Car or with the rain would be needed to allow the other teams to get closer. At the moment there are two teams doing another job, another profession. Mercedes which, compared to the other teams, does yet another job, but which still struggles in qualifying because it is unable to optimize the car. I even see it difficult for Mercedes to win a Grand Prix, also considering the lack of reliability compared to Ferrari. Assuming a risky victory, I can believe in an Alpine or an Alfa Romeo with Bottas, but I don't believe in others."
As team principal, who would you choose as a driver pair among those currently on the grid?
“Stroll and Zhou! Just kidding, I would definitely choose Hamilton. I'd pair him with Leclerc, because he's young and has a good perspective, but if I had to make the team of my dreams, I'd put Hamilton and Vettel, two experienced drivers, and go!"
And instead, as a driver, who would you like by your side?
“Here is really Guanyu Zhou, Stroll, or Latifi in this case. Obviously a strong teammate stimulates you but it's even better to have a teammate who is always behind. Latifi I must say that she is struggling more than I expected, she has never disfigured so much last year with Russell while this year she constantly loses 6 tenths per lap on Albon. ”
Speaking of you, this is your 4th season with Ferrari Esports. Many young people have begun to approach this world. What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in eSports?
“You have to have a lot of passion. With that you already start to fuel, to have that stimulus that allows you to go further and do more things. I started when I was very young, as early as 5/6 years old, at 10 I already had my first steering wheel and at 15 I started competing in the virtual world, in 2010. Of course, my situation is different because I'm 26, and for the eSports world is starting to be a heavy age. From the age of 16 you have to start being part of some team, because legally you can make championships with prizes. Now the world has evolved and there are many people who have approached it. You have to stand out, have passion, be satisfied with even a simpler workstation, and focus only on this, doing 2-3 hours of targeted training that allows you to do other very important things, such as studying.”
Reality or virtual? Where do you prefer to run?
“I tried the Formula Predators, with a top speed of 170 km/h, and I had a lot of fun, even if they were unsafe. When I took to the track in real life, I understood that I'd already been there because I remembered every braking point, I went to consider the change in asphalt, without doing laps on the track or with the simulator because I had a sense of speed. Obviously I like to compete in real life and one of my goals is to be able to compete in a GT championship. Otherwise I would gladly stay in the virtual world, because I can train young pilots who can have a future as real and virtual pilots, plus there are still some interesting competitions in the virtual world that I would like to participate in. I'd like to do both here, weekend I run in the real and during the week in the virtual.”
Can you tell us your top 5 in Fanta F1? Roberto Chinchero had chosen Latifi as last place
“Ah, but also for me, Latifi is the one who in my mind was already stuck for the last place bonus. However, he wants to finish the race, so yes he would put it for the last place bonus. Then I would say Verstappen, Leclerc, Magnussen and Vettel who I absolutely must have in the team even if I know it won't bring me points."
