Australian GP qualifying showing surprised F1 debutant Giovinazzi
Last-minute Sauber Formula 1 call-up Antonio Giovinazzi said his performance in Australian Grand Prix qualifying exceeded his expectations ahead of his surprise debut
The 2016 GP2 runner-up, who has been named Ferrari's third driver for the 2017 season, has been drafted in by Sauber to substitute for the withdrawn Pascal Wehrlein.
Giovinazzi drove the C36 in place of Wehrlein during the first Barcelona test but practice on Saturday morning was his first experience of the Melbourne circuit.
He was on course to make it into the second phase of qualifying but missed out by less than two tenths of a second when he made a mistake on his final run and team-mate Marcus Ericsson improved.
"I'm really happy with the performance," said Giovinazzi, who will start his first grand prix 16th.
"After the second set of tyres I was a little bit in front of Marcus, I tried to push more and I made a mistake at Turn 15.
"It was my first qualifying, I already expected less than what I got.
"I'm happy to be just a few tenths from Marcus with more experience with the car, with F1.
"I think it's good enough."
Giovinazzi said he was not sure he would have stayed ahead of Ericsson without that error, as he had already lost time with a lock-up at Turn 1.
Ericsson, who will start 15th, admitted he "had to put in a good lap to beat" his new team-mate.
"I don't know if I was surprised, but I was quite impressed, let's put it that way," the Swede added.
"He did a good job."
SHOCK DEBUT 'A DREAM COME TRUE'
On Sunday Giovinazzi will become the first Italian driver to start a grand prix since Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi contested the 2011 season finale in Brazil.
Giovinazzi said it was "really important" for his country to have an F1 driver again, and called the opportunity a "dream come true". "I still can't believe it," he said.
"It's a dream since I was a kid in karting to do one grand prix.
"I came here, yesterday I was working in the Ferrari garage and now I'm here to talk to you after qualifying - and tomorrow we race.
"It's an amazing sensation and I can't wait for tomorrow."
Werhlein has withdrawn due to fitness concerns and Giovinazzi admitted he was not sure what state he would be in at the end of the 58-lap race, having not focused on long runs when he appeared in testing.
He said: "I think I will be quite prepared but we'll see if I'm fit or not!
"It will be a long race, anything can happen, so I need to do the same job I did today."
Previous article
The key technical developments from Australia
Next article
Renault reverts to old MGU-K for Australian GP amid reliability woe
Verstappen v Hamilton: Who was at fault?
Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying analysis
The drivers that need to strike gold before F1's summer break
OPINION: Formula 1 is about to break up for summer 2021, with the title battles finely poised. But it’s not just the latest round of Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton that will be worth watching this weekend in Hungary, as plenty of drivers are eying big results to change the stories of their seasons so far
How Lotus F1 uncovered, then squandered its last ‘unfair advantage’
Cast in the mould of its founder Colin Chapman, Lotus was powerful and daring but flawed – as it proved through further soaring peaks and painful troughs into the 1980s. DAMIEN SMITH examines a game-changing era
The core problems Yas Marina’s long-awaited tweaks won't address
OPINION: Changes to the layout of Abu Dhabi’s circuit aim to reverse the trend of insipid Formula 1 races there - the promoter has even described one of the new corners as “iconic”. And that, argues STUART CODLING, is one of this venue’s abiding failings
How Ferrari offered Britain's next F1 prospect what Red Bull couldn't
Last year's Formula 2 runner-up Callum Ilott could be on his way to becoming the first Briton to contest a grand prix in an Alfa Romeo since Reg Parnell in 1950. But, says OLEG KARPOV, the Ferrari Driver Academy protege is having to temper his ambition at the moment – outwardly at least…
The signs that point to F1's rude health
OPINION: Formula 1's calendar might still be facing disruption as the pandemic affects travel but, says MARK GALLAGHER, the business itself is fundamentally strong thanks to the epic rivalry taking place on track and the consistent arrival of new sponsors
The unexpected benefit of F1’s sprint race repeat
OPINION: Formula 1's sprint race trial at Silverstone drew mixed feedback on Saturday, but there remained the true test of how it would impact Sunday's Grand Prix. While fans were busy marvelling at Fernando Alonso's progress, a key lesson was being learned that would directly contribute to the dramatic lap one clash at Copse the following day
The off-track considerations that led to F1’s Hamilton/Verstappen Silverstone shunt
OPINION: Formula 1’s 2021 title fight turned ugly last weekend when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided at the start of the British Grand Prix. Verstappen thankfully walked away unharmed, but this had been a clash long-since coming
Will 2022's all-new cars look like F1's concept model?
Formula 1 provided its clearest example yet of what the 2022 cars are set to look like when it presented a full-scale concept to the world during the build-up to last weekend’s British Grand Prix. Underneath the special shiny livery was a design that hinted at the future, but teams will be digging into key areas that may reap differing results
