Austrian experience will be crucial for F2 rookie Louis

Louis Delétraz will return to familiar territory this weekend when the 2017 FIA Formula Two Championship resumes at Spielberg in Austria.

The fifth round of the series marks a return to European soil and brings an end to a sequence of two races where Louis has been competing on unfamiliar street circuits in Monaco and Azerbaijan.

The 4.32km Spielberg circuit is one that Louis knows well and it’s where he has recorded considerable success in the seasons before he graduated to F2 with the Racing Engineering squad. In 2016 alone, he scored a pole position and two podium finishes when the Formula V8 3.5 Series visited Spielberg.

Louis is hoping he’ll be able to use his experience in Austria to turn around a disappointing run of F2 results so far this season.
“I’m very happy to be going back to tracks that I know, starting with Spielberg,” the ADS Securities-supported driver said. “It’s a circuit where I have good references and some fantastic memories. I have been very successful and quick there in the past; hopefully I can repeat that form this weekend.”

Louis has been carefully analysing his and Racing Engineering’s performances at the opening Formula 2 Championship races in a bid to discover the speed that will enable both parties to show their true colours between now and the end of the 2017 season.
Louis believes progress has been made and he’s hoping that will enable him to focus on his driving and do what come naturally when Friday’s Free Practice session gets underway at 12.00 (UTC) local time.

“We’ve been working hard since Baku to see what can be fixed for Austria. It’s been important to reset and go back to basics – not just me but everyone. By then applying everything that we know works, that’s the best solution,” the 20-year-old explained. “That will allow me to drive without thinking. When I do that I’m quick.

“Nobody was happy with the results so far this season. I have never been in a bad situation or moment like this before, but it’s important that we come back strong and just make everything work. There’s no reason why we can’t do it, particularly on tracks I already know.”

The configuration of the compact Spielberg circuit is one that Louis likes, particularly the varied mix of slow-speed corners, high-speed straights and track undulations. The Swiss driver isn’t expecting tyre degradation will be a huge concern this weekend, either.

He said: “It’s a track I like because it’s very technical and there are lots of corners in a short period. It gives me confidence to know I have good references on the track and that I know what to do. One of the few things I can count on as an F2 rookie is my previous experience and Spielberg is somewhere I can use this. I want to be in the mix and be ready for anything.”

Louis is hoping an upturn in fortunes this weekend will allow him to repay some of the faith that his supporters have shown in recent weeks as they’ve sent messages of support via his website and social media channels.

“It’s nice to have support in the good moments but it’s also very good to have that in difficult ones too,” he said. “I’ve had lots of positive messages in recent weeks and I’m really thankful for that. I’ll be doing my best to give some good moments to those that are cheering me on.”

RACE RESULTS