Q & A with Kazuki Nakajima

The Japanese driver, however, has set the ambituous goal of beating teammate Nico Rosberg.

Autosport.com heard from Nakajima at Barcelona about his goals for the season and a lot more.

Q. How does it feel to now be a part of the Williams race team?

Kazuki Nakajima: It's going to be completely different because it is going to be my first proper season. But it is good to have the experience from the last race of last year [in Brazil], and I think because of that I can be a little bit more relaxed for the first race.

But still it is going to be completely new this season and we don't know where we are so it is difficult to predict. I just need to concentrate on my job and if we can do our best then I think it is going to be a good season.

Q. What does it mean to be have a teammate like Nico Rosberg, because though he is experienced he is also a young driver like you?

KN: He is young and more experienced than me so actually it is really good to have a teammate like Nico and I can learn a lot from him. Also he is a similar age to me so he is easy to talk with and I think everything is going good at the moment.

Q. Are you now the new rising star in Japan?

KN: I am not sure because I have been away from Japan for a long time. It's been two years.

Q. Two years without going back?

KN: No, no. Sometimes I have been back but it is a little difficult to know what is being said over there.

Q. Is Takuma Sato still the most popular Japanese driver at the moment?

KN: I think so but hopefully that will change a little bit, but not too much.

Q. So is it difficult for you to know your popularity in Japan?

KN: It is difficult but actually that is a good thing because if you feel it too much it is extra pressure. But at the moment I don't feel anything so that is a positive.

Q. So you don't feel too much pressure as the number two driver at Williams. Do you think that will be the same in Melbourne?

KN: I think in Melbourne for sure I will get some pressure, much more than at the moment. But because of last year's experience I think it is going to be easier. The pressure basically comes from myself not from outside, so on that point I need to be a bit stronger. But I think I coped well enough in GP2 so it should be okay.

Q. You are starting your Formula One with confidence as the team seem to be on the rise.

KN: Yes, I think the team is getting better and better and I have a good teammate. I was on the way to improving through this winter and also through the season so everything is going great. I am feeling quite positive.

Q. How is the atmosphere in the team at the moment?

KN: It is quite good. The new car looks good at the moment and everybody is motivated and pushing really hard for the first race. Not only for the first race but also for the season.

Q. What is your target for the season?

KN: To beat Nico. That is the biggest aim for me, because your teammate is actually the only guy you can compare yourself against. I also want to have a steady progression through the season, I am sure my first race will not be my best but I want to have strong races towards the end of the season and I want to concentrate on myself and do my best and then I think the results will follow.

Q. Are you confident you can beat Nico?

KN: There is a chance. It's not an easy thing, as you know, but I think yes there is a chance.

Q. What do you think will be the most difficult thing for you to learn this season?

KN: I know all the tracks except Singapore and Valencia which is good for me. I even know Melbourne through the Friday practice sessions last year and I was with the team many times during the season. But the year is going to be quite long and it is going to be the first time I have had such a long season. It is going to be quite tough but I need to stay calm and keep concentrating.

Q. GP2 was a good opportunity to come into Formula One. There were lots of good drivers in the series last year and seemingly not enough places in F1 for them to fill. Do you feel lucky to have got a seat on the grid?

KN: Yes I think so. It is not easy to find a space in Formula One. Last year I had a good season in GP2 and because of that I had the opportunity to race [with Williams] in Brazil. After that it went really well for me. Yes in some ways I think I was lucky to get that opportunity but the most important thing is how well I can do from now on in F1. To get here is not the last goal so from now on I have to push even harder.

Q. You have spent the whole winter preparing for every aspect of Grand Prix racing, which area do you still feel you need to improve on?

KN: I need to improve in every aspect even more. I think qualifying is getting better for me. The only question is whether I can do it during a race weekend. It is going to be little bit more difficult then - but that will come with experience. Actually we haven't done a lot of race simulations so far because of a little problem on the car. Today we managed one but we found there is still room to improve. So that will be the main thing for me.

Q. How about the starts?

KN: I think the starts will be okay. We have a good strategy for the start and it looks reasonable, but we will have to wait and see until the first race.

Q. There is still strategy for the starts then?

KN: Actually it is similar to last year. I mean not through traction control, but just from the driver's point of view.

Q. Does this mean there is engine mapping and things like that?

KN: Actually we can tune the mapping. We can't control the wheelspin but there are a lot of things we can do.

Q. From a physical point of view did you have to improve a lot coming from GP2?

KN: From GP2 to F1 is still a big step physically, especially on the neck, and the races are much longer so I had to improve a lot from the end of last season. It was a big progression but I didn't find any difficulties in the race simulation today. It is not easy of course and it's still not perfect. But it is good that there is still room to improve my fitness.

Q. How about mental preparation because your concentration will be tested much more without traction control?

KN: I am working on it at the moment. Compared to year I can improve much more and it is so, so. I still need to improve, but for me it is much more important to have a good mental approach.

Q. Can you give us an example of the sort of exercises you use to improve on the mental aspects of your performance?

KN: It's a secret! Firstly you need to be relaxed, then you need to focus on something in particular and not try to think about anything else for a long time. This is good practice for the long races.

Q. Does this make it easier when the visor is down?

KN: It's not easy but it comes automatically. But you have good moments and bad moments so I need to improve on my consistency.

Q. Do you learn tracks quickly?

KN: Yes I think so. Actually when I came to Europe that was a big aspect that I needed to get used to. It was okay and last year in GP2 it was good.

Q. Is the Williams simulator helpful?

KN: Yes it is good enough to learn the tracks.

Q. Are you situated in a cockpit when you use it?

KN: Yes kind of, but we haven't got simulated g-force and the car doesn't move but the steering input is quite realistic.

Q. Do you spend a lot of time in it?

KN: Yes. To learn a track especially. We can also practice my driving which is quite useful and we can try set-up changes and things.

Q. Does Nico use it as well?

KN: Yes I think so but maybe not as much as me, because I live close to the factory so it is easy for me to go there. I go whenever I have the time but recently I have been quite busy!

Q. Is it physically or mentally tiring?

KN: It is more of a mental thing, but the steering can be hard after a while.

Q. Is it true that some drivers get carsick when they use simulators?

KN: Yes some drivers do suffer from motion sickness. You basically sit in a dark room with a big screen in front of you. It's no problem for me though.

Q. How is the media attention compared to GP2?

KN: There is a lot more but at the moment it is not too much. That's part of the job and it doesn't bother me.

Q. You don't find it distracting?

KN: No. But maybe it will over a race weekend but we will see.

Q. You and Nico are both sons of former F1 drivers. Do you get asked about that a lot?

KN: Of course some people recognise me as the son of Nakajima, but that's because I am! I don't feel anything about that and of course I am a different person.

Q. It doesn't get boring to hear about it?

KN: Not really. To be honest I don't care about that.

Q. Does Satoru-san follow your career very closely?

KN: Not very closely. He gave me some advice at some points but actually he was watching from a certain distance, which makes things a bit easier for me.

Q. Will he come to the Grands Prix?

KN: He will come to some races but I'm not sure which ones.

Q. Would you prefer it if he wasn't there?

KN: Sometimes it is good to have him around but not all the time.

Q. Are you nervous about the start of the season?

KN: Not at the moment. Maybe I will be when I am in Australia but I am still thinking about testing. [The feeling] is going to grow but I think I can control it because of my experiences from last year.