Q & A with Alex Brundle

He spoke to AUTOSPORT about his time in F2 and why he sees F3 as the best place for him to take the next step in his single-seater career.

Q. Why have you decided to switch from F2 to British F3?

Alex Brundle: I've got nothing against F2, I think the concept is fantastic, the quality of the racing and the cars is fantastic and will only get better, but for us 2009 was a diagnosis year: we needed to find out what it is I have to do to improve.

A good way to do that is getting out of your comfort zone and out of your depth. That's what I did with F2. I was racing guys who were 24/25, falling out of GP2, and when I move back into my own peer group I will be all the stronger for it.

Q. What attracts you to F3?

AB: I've done a lot of testing with teams [with Team West-Tec and Campos in European F3 Open] and I found I was putting in times that would have put me on pole at almost every track.

I could achieve that because of two things: one, the amount of track time on offer, and two, the team environment.

The guys knew how the car should be driven and could help me with it, rather than me having to look at data from the fastest kid and trying to replicate it - they could work with me rather than presenting me with perfection and just telling me to get on with it.

When you've got a situation with a lot of equality, like F2, the guys with experience just take off - they can get in and know exactly what they want after one session. Whether I'll go back to F2 in the future is another matter.

Q. What do you make of your performances in F2 last season?

AB: It was a difficult learning process and I struggled with inconsistency. The good days were very good, much better than my Formula Palmer Audi peers or guys from F3, but there were also bad days. We had races like Spa, where I was only two tenths off guys who are rattling around in F1 cars now, and others where I was coming off the back of the grid. It's a trait the team environment of F3 should help to iron out.

Q. How did your deal for British F3 come about?

AB: We approached [VW motorsport director] Kris Nissen about doing an engine deal for T-Sport and he came back and told me what we could and should do if I was going to be driving for T-Sport.

I've got VW support, but it's not because of myself and where I'm going to be racing, it's to do with F3 and T-Sport's existing relationship with VW. They've taken me under their wing and put me on their driver programme, so I get to go to training events and stuff like that, and represent VW. I've got a fantastic deal with T-Sport and I really like the family atmosphere at the team.

Q. What are your expectations for your first season in British F3?

AB: It really depends how it goes with the team and myself. I'm going to try and do as well as I can, but I've got no expectations for the championship.

I'm going to go in and drive as fast as I can and try to win, but I've never raced in F3 - I don't know how competitive it's going to be. I've no idea of the level between F2 and F3 and I think a lot of people are going to be interested in that.

I've looked through the results of F3 races and sometimes there's a second covering the top 10. I'm used to races where one second covers the whole field. But then the cars are different in F3 and it's a whole new ball game. One thing's for sure, I'm not going to hold back or pull any punches.

Q. How much F3 experience do you have?

AB: I've done a couple of tests in an F3 car, about four or five days in Spain for Team West-Tec and Campos, but no British F3 testing yet.

My first test will be at Snetterton [the first official 2010 FOTA test]. I'm looking forward to it. I always go well there and I'm hoping to lay down a marker of my competitiveness relatively soon, to convince VW and T-Sport that I'm worth their while.

Q. What are your plans beyond F3?

AB: I've got no idea whether we'll do one or two years in F3 or what's going to happen after that. We've jumped out of the whole 'Palmer system' and there's so much opportunity and danger - who wants you to drive for them, who just wants money? It's a difficult thing.

I'm at the mercy of my dad's experience, but that's a good position to be in. He knows the way and has the contacts to help us make the right decision. I trust that implicitly.

Q. How much involvement will your dad have in F3 this year?

AB: He's going to be around and about, but I'm going to stay and travel with the team. If I start turning up like the Lord's driver the trust between the team and me will start to break down. I've got to work with these guys and they need to be confident I'm working just as hard as they are.