Michela Cerruti “Improving Formula 1? V8 and Lots of Aerodynamics”

On the occasion of the racing weekend on the Brianza circuit of Monza we had the opportunity to exchange a few words with Michela about her experience in Formula E and not only... but also on Formula 1.

How do you see this Formula 1 championship?

I'm happy that Ferrari has recovered, even if I don't think anyone likes that Mercedes is still so strong, Red Bull has become a bit human again... Fortunately there are always forces that alternate. It's a formula one that I quite like, the movement is there, the battles are there. Now perhaps the result is a little less obvious than last year, although it must be said that in the history of Formula 1 the result has been taken for granted many times, when Senna was there, when Schumacher was there with Ferrari, so there it's always been someone's domain even for many years in a row, so I don't think that's what's creating the problem.

It's a bit like this exasperated technology that goes above the pure race and the real duel. But all in all we are seeing battles, so I think there is more controversy from the nostalgic people, who every time remember the old days. Honestly, I didn't experience the old days that much, so... I follow Formula 1 and I like following it. Perhaps I find it a slightly unattractive environment for us drivers in other categories, since in the circus there are many drivers who are there not so much for merit but for money and business. Because at the end of the day it is natural that when so much money revolves around a world, the interest of whoever is in there is money. So apart from the teams that have Academies, such as McLaren, Ferrari and Redbull, the other teams go and get paying drivers, not to mention third drivers or second-hand development drivers. It's a whole combination of things that makes that environment a little unappealing for us drivers but after all it's the circus, right? It's a big circus, and in the end you enjoy watching it.

Have you ever had a Rosberg-Hamilton situation with your teammate?

Not so much. I've always had excellent relationships with my teammates... Maybe last year in AutoGP was the only year in which we didn't get along very well, but fundamentally not at the levels of Rosberg-Hamilton. I happened to compare myself on the track with my teammates but there was always a lot of respect. There is friendship outside the race, I have lived it and I live it constantly.

Lately there has been a lot of talk about how the top flight can be improved. For example, points for pole position on Saturday have been proposed, what do you think?

Points for pole position exist in many other championships, so I don't see why not do it in Formula 1 too.

A possible championship for women or third drivers? Increase the number of races per weekend to two?

The championship for women is a discussion with which I absolutely do not agree but for the way in which it was expressed. Not even the championship for third drivers. Race one and race two, for example the DTM has now adopted this format, but in the major championships you always focus on just one race, personally I would make it a little shorter.

Customer cars or limits to aerodynamic development?

That could be fine, but limiting aerodynamic development is not, because the beauty of Formula 1, even when you go to see them, is that they are the cars that have crazy speeds when cornering. It's a bit like this story of the power unit which has created quite a few problems on a technical level with the teams continuing to complain, firstly because it costs a lot, but for that matter the aerodynamic development also costs quite a bit, but precisely the fact that everyone complains it's what ruins the environment. For me, the best solution would be to go back to the V8s of two years ago with crazy aerodynamics, because that's exactly the beauty of going to see a Formula 1 race.

Crazy prediction: who will win the world championship this year?

Hamilton, I think it's not difficult unfortunately.

Matteo Bramati, Andrea Villa

The full interview will be released in the Motorsport section in a few days.