Formula 1
da Matta struggling with new tracks
Cristiano da Matta admits that not being familiar with some of the circuits on the Formula One calendar is making life difficult for him. The one hour free practice before Friday qualifying is the Toyota rookie's first experience on a lot of tracks ...
Published: May 1, 2003, 8:59 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Cristiano da Matta admits that not being familiar with some of the circuits on the Formula One calendar is making life difficult for him. The one hour free practice before Friday qualifying is the Toyota rookie's first experience on a lot of tracks and da Matta said it's not long enough to get comfortable in the car.
Cristiano da Matta.
Photo by Brousseau Photo.
"Not having much time to learn new tracks does make my life more difficult, even though I can learn new circuits quite quickly, as I showed in Australia and Malaysia," he told ITV-F1.
"Nevertheless, one hour of free practice just before the first qualifying on Friday is not enough time to be totally comfortable in the car and up to speed. I am sure it had some negative effects on my overall qualifying performance."
This weekend's Spanish Grand Prix should be easier as Toyota has tested at the Circuit de Catalunya and da Matta knows it well: "This weekend in Barcelona should be much better," he said. "Because like most other drivers, we tested there a lot over the winter, so it is the track on the calendar I know best."
Having an experienced team-mate like Olivier Panis is a help to da Matta and he has no problems getting along with the amiable Frenchman. "It has been helpful working with Olivier," said Cristiano.
"He is such a great guy and not only regarding the on-track business-related stuff, he is a very nice person off the track as well. Building a good relationship with teammates outside as well as on the track makes our working relationship much easier and more fun."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Arbitration to lead to race annulments?
Next article Alonso playing down the praise
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Olivier Panis
On this day: Olivier Panis takes only F1 win in chaotic Monaco GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
On this day: Olivier Panis takes only F1 win in chaotic Monaco GP
Exclusive: Panis says ART’s Vasseur would “do the job” for Renault F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Exclusive: Panis says ART’s Vasseur would “do the job” for Renault F1
Formula Renault 3.5 kicks off 2015 season at Motorland Aragón
Formula V8 3.5
Formula V8 3.5
Formula Renault 3.5 kicks off 2015 season at Motorland Aragón
Latest news
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 1 h
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe