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Giovinazzi warns against Leclerc comparisons

Published on 14 Jan 2019 12:01
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By: Fergal Walsh

Antonio Giovinazzi says that he will be focusing on his own results for the 2019 season rather than emulating the success of Charles Leclerc. Leclerc debuted for Sauber in the 2018 season before being called on by Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen for 2019.

Giovinazzi, Ferrari's second junior competitor in F1, will make his full-season bow this year, having already done two races for Sauber in early 2017. However, he doesn't want to be compared to the Monegasque driver, and has not talked to him about his full-time promotion.

"I didn't speak much to him about this jump, I want to focus on myself," said the Italian. "I don't want to repeat Charles' results this year or improve his results - my target is just to do the best I can on my side.

"I will have a different team-mate from Charles [who was alongside Marcus Ericsson]. Everything will look different. I hope the car can be faster at race one, and start to push from Melbourne."

Giovinazzi will partner 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at Sauber next year, and is encouraged by the recent success of young drivers in top teams.

"Already, many young drivers show they are fast enough to be in a top team, like [Max] Verstappen, and next year will be Pierre [Gasly], and Charles," he said. "It's good to see a young driver can do a fantastic job in a top team. It will be my first year in F1. My target is to improve myself."

Kean

Posts: 692

I hope and think that he will do well, I think he impressed in F3 and battled Gasly really hard in GP2, in his rookie year. He impressed in his first outing in F1 but then he sort of messed up in China as well in his outing for Haas. But I dont judge him too harshly for that, I try to focus on hi... [Read more]

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Jan 15 2019 - 10:02

F1 News Antonio Giovinazzi Charles Leclerc Sauber

Replies (4)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
That's the right thing to say for Gio, but the reality is that the comparison will inevitably be there. If anything he's starting on the backfoot because he's not really a proper rookie. He's already driven a few races.
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- Jan 14 2019 - 16:57
- mcbhargav
  
  Posts: 1,332
  Hope he would drop few kilos of weight and watch his quali performance, which is supposed to be the weakness of Kimi. If he could out qualify Kimi with 13-8 or better, he wouldn't be the next Ericsson.
  + 0
  
  Jan 14 2019 - 17:14
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Ha! In your dreams, but I don't think he could ask for a better teammate this year. I think he'll do well with an extra season of the lower category under his belt he should do well his full rookie season.
  + 0
  
  Jan 16 2019 - 23:58
Kean

Posts: 692
I hope and think that he will do well, I think he impressed in F3 and battled Gasly really hard in GP2, in his rookie year. He impressed in his first outing in F1 but then he sort of messed up in China as well in his outing for Haas. But I dont judge him too harshly for that, I try to focus on his impressive bits.
- + 1
- Jan 15 2019 - 10:02