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PRE-SEASON INTERVIEW WITH KAZUKI NAKAJIMA
2008 marks your debut season as a Formula One driver, you must
be
excited?
I’m really excited! I’ve done a lot of work over the winter
with my engineers and
it’s all gone well. The car also feels good so I’m positive.
Having already raced
in the Brazilian Grand Prix last year, I feel a bit more relaxed
going into the
season because I’ve experienced a race weekend before and know
exactly
what is expected of me.
What are your objectives for the year ahead?
As it’s my debut season, it’s difficult to talk about
results but obviously I want to
do my best in every race. It’s my first year in Formula One so
it won’t be easy to
get everything right first time, so my objective is to make good
progress and
enjoy the races.
What preparations have you undertaken over the winter to ensure
you are
fully prepared?
I’ve been working really hard over the winter, particularly on
my training,
focussing on cardio work and improving my neck strength. I’ve
also been
working out in some hotter climates to prepare myself for places
like Malaysia.
I’ve spent a lot of time with my engineers, at the track and
at the factory, to
make sure I get my consistency right. Improving my English has
also been a
priority!
How much work has it taken to get to Formula One?
Everyone knows it’s really difficult to get into Formula One.
I raced in GP2 last
year and then in F3 the year before that. I just made sure I did
my best in GP2,
and performing well in those races helped. Doing a good job when
I raced for
the team in Brazil last year probably worked in my favour too.
Like Nico and Keke, your father was also an F1 driver. How much
of a role
has he played in your career?
Firstly, I have to say that it’s primarily because of him that
I ever had an interest
in racing. If he hadn’t been a driver, I probably would have
been doing
something else now. So from that point of view, he’s been
fundamental. On a
practical level, he’s now always there to offer advice, but he
hasn’t been
hovering over my shoulder!
Williams will celebrate a number of landmarks this year, notably
500 GPs.
What does it mean to you to make your career debut with a team
with
such a strong heritage in the sport?
Williams is a great team with a long and successful history. For
me, it’s really
special to be making my debut with them because I can learn so
much from
their experience. It’s also like one big family. Everyone
loves what they do and
has just one aim and that is to race, so as a driver it’s one
of the best teams to
be with.
You were the team’s test driver in 2007 so had experience of
the FW29. Is
the FW30 an improvement?
It’s definitely a step forward. When I drove the FW30 for the
first time in
Valencia at the start of January, I could tell the difference
from the FW29
straight away and my initial feelings were really positive. We
also have some
updates planned for Melbourne which should also take us further
forward.
What are your expectations for the team this year?
It’s really difficult to predict. One thing is clear and that
is that Ferrari and
McLaren are still ahead of us, but the midfield is really close
so it’s going to be a
big fight among those teams and we’re in that group. One thing’s
for sure: it’s
going to be a great season so, if we do well, it will be well
deserved.
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