Prema not expecting repeat GP2 performance in 2017

Prema Racing boss Rene Rosin says he isn't expecting his squad to repeat the kind of success it enjoyed in its rookie GP2 season last year.

The Italian team entered the Formula 1 support category for the first time in 2016 with Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly and rookie Antonio Giovinazzi, who ended up finishing one-two in the drivers' standings.

Prema likewise dominated the teams' standings, banking a full 172 points more than nearest rival Racing Engineering.

For 2017, the team will enter two more rookie drivers in Ferrari proteges Charles Leclerc and Antonio Fuoco both stepping up from GP3 to join the reigning champion outfit.

While pointing to Prema's strong track record in the past with rookie drivers, Rosin admitted that he does not expect to enjoy quite the same degree of success this year.

"Having two rookies is something that we at Prema have worked with very well, in all the other categories," he told Motorsport.com.

"[For example], with Esteban Ocon we won in the first year of Formula 3 against Max Verstappen [in 2014]. I think we can do a good job.

"But of course we are not starting by saying that we want to win. We are starting by saying that we have to work a lot - and from working, the result at the end will come."

2016 success came "automatically"

Looking back on a successful 2016 campaign, Rosin said that Prema's winning ways came as a surprise, as the squad ended up taking seven of a possible 11 feature race wins and an equal number of pole positions.

"We were not expecting to be fighting with two cars in the last race for the championship," Rosin said. "We were expecting to be contenders, but not such a great season.

"But then everything came... I wouldn't say easy, but quite automatically. And when we had down moments, we always analysed, looked what we could improved and that just became our strength."

Asked if Prema's drivers were a major factor in its success, he added: "For sure, it's part of it.

"Having two drivers that are really fighting each other - but at the same time respecting each other, helping each other - it's something important.

"But in the beginning, nobody was so sure that Antonio would be immediately fast. He was a rookie in GP2, and always they say for rookies it's very difficult, the championship. Drivers take three, four years to get some good results.

"So at the end I think, for sure, the two things came together very well - the drivers working well together, and together with the team."