Alfa Romeo Racing driver Antonio Giovinazzi is fine with the decision made by Ferrari to take in Carlos Sainz as he feels he has to fight for that F1 seat.
The wake of Sebastian Vettel’s departure from Ferrari was turbulent to say the least, with several F1 drivers having a shoo-in for the drive, depending on the angle from which you looked at the situation.
It transpired that Carlos Sainz took the seat, though immediately before the announcement that had already become clear. This left the other drivers in with a shot of the drive at Ferrari hung out to dry, and one of the many included in the list of those to lose out on the coveted seat was their academy man, Giovinazzi.
And, while he presumably would have appreciated signing with the prestigious team, Giovinazzi – who currently drives for the Ferrari customer team Alfa Romeo – is respectful of the decision made by the team to sign the Spanish driver over himself, citing his lack of experience, and results that were, by his own admission, not quite there yet.
“I’m still part of that [Ferrari] family,” said Giovinazzi to Sky Sports. “I was happy to even have the possibility of take that seat. In my career I’ve never had something easily. I always fight. I always sacrificed a lot to get something back.
“Now was maybe not the right time, after only 23 grand prix. Last year I matured really well during the year, but it was really difficult for me. I’m still young so I’m sure if I continue like that and I continue to fight, and work really hard I can have that possibility in the future. I think, first of all, I’ve only had one season.
“I know that Charles also had one season before going to Ferrari, but from my side, if we look back, we struggled also in the second part of the season with the car. The results were not really there. But I’m still part of Ferrari.
“The fact that they still follow me, and my career is something really great. I’m still working with Alfa Romeo to see if we can get a great result together. That’s my main target for now, because that is my team now, but we will see.
“If I can fight like I always did and do a lot of work like I’m doing now. I’m working really hard because I want big things, and I need to focus, for now, on my main job: doing a fantastic job with Alfa Romeo, and then in the future I know that I’m still a Ferrari driver, and I’m sure I can have an opportunity,” summed up Giovinazzi.
Whether this opportunity will arise for Giovinazzi, though, is an entirely different matter, with timing potentially presenting a major challenge. On this front, the Italian expects that his performances will create the opportunity, as they have done in the past.
“Of course, if the Ferrari call came, I will get [it] straight away,” said Giovinazzi. “This I am sure. My career always had some open doors. From karting I met the Indonesian guy [Ricardo Gelael], and there my formula career began.
“Then I called by Ferrari after a strong year in Formula 2. I am happy with what I did, if I think about the past and I say ‘I didn’t do enough’, I would not be happy, but I’m really happy with my career, because I did always the maximum I could, and I’m sure if I still push like I did I can have something great in the future.”
With both Charles Leclerc and Sainz signed up until 2024 and 2022, Giovinazzi will be hopeful that he is retained by Alfa Romeo. Although he is the lone Italian on the F1 grid – which he spoke about too – but it won’t count towards the seat.
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