Brandon Maisano optimistic after the Valencia race
Company press release.
The long winter break is finally over and the Italian Formula 3 European Series got underway last weekend at the Valencia circuit in Spain. The Ferrari Driver Academy kept a close eye on Brandon Maisano's debut with the Prema team. The eighteen year old Frenchman's first task was to familiarise himself with a track he did not know and the lap times tumbled proving he was adapting quickly to the twisty Spanish circuit.
'Going into the weekend, I was a bit apprehensive,' explained Maisano, 'as I was the only driver who did not know the track, but the outcome of qualifying was reassuring. In qualifying for race 1, I was third fastest and then in the session to decide the grid for race 2, I improved, setting the second fastest time.'
However, there were a few unexpected hitches in the race. 'Unfortunately I had not taken into account the nature of the track layout,' continued Brandon, 'and right from the early laps in race 1, I realised that overtaking at this track is almost impossible. I tried several times to get a tow from those ahead of me, but getting too close meant losing aerodynamic downforce and I was risking going off the track. The only chance to make up a place would be if one of the guys ahead made a mistake, but that never happened.'
In race 1, Maisano stayed third from the start to the chequered flag, while the start of the second race was a bit busier. 'At the start I got away better than my team-mate Cheever, who was on pole,' explained Brandon. 'But at the first corner we held each other up a bit and both of us were passed by Martins. I got back into second place again, but even though I was visibly quicker than the leader, there was no way I could get into the lead so I took another runner-up spot.'
In the third and final race of the Valencia weekend, Maisano took fourth, coming away with a total of 34 points. 'I am happy with how the Valencia weekend went overall,' concluded Brandon. 'Especially considering I was having to play catch-up as I did little testing in the winter. I like the 2012 configuration of the car a lot and the feeling was instantly better compared to last year's car and my performance at Valencia improved progressively with each passing lap. I feel ready to aim for a win and that will be my only target come the next round in Budapest.'
The long winter break is finally over and the Italian Formula 3 European Series got underway last weekend at the Valencia circuit in Spain. The Ferrari Driver Academy kept a close eye on Brandon Maisano's debut with the Prema team. The eighteen year old Frenchman's first task was to familiarise himself with a track he did not know and the lap times tumbled proving he was adapting quickly to the twisty Spanish circuit.
'Going into the weekend, I was a bit apprehensive,' explained Maisano, 'as I was the only driver who did not know the track, but the outcome of qualifying was reassuring. In qualifying for race 1, I was third fastest and then in the session to decide the grid for race 2, I improved, setting the second fastest time.'
However, there were a few unexpected hitches in the race. 'Unfortunately I had not taken into account the nature of the track layout,' continued Brandon, 'and right from the early laps in race 1, I realised that overtaking at this track is almost impossible. I tried several times to get a tow from those ahead of me, but getting too close meant losing aerodynamic downforce and I was risking going off the track. The only chance to make up a place would be if one of the guys ahead made a mistake, but that never happened.'
In race 1, Maisano stayed third from the start to the chequered flag, while the start of the second race was a bit busier. 'At the start I got away better than my team-mate Cheever, who was on pole,' explained Brandon. 'But at the first corner we held each other up a bit and both of us were passed by Martins. I got back into second place again, but even though I was visibly quicker than the leader, there was no way I could get into the lead so I took another runner-up spot.'
In the third and final race of the Valencia weekend, Maisano took fourth, coming away with a total of 34 points. 'I am happy with how the Valencia weekend went overall,' concluded Brandon. 'Especially considering I was having to play catch-up as I did little testing in the winter. I like the 2012 configuration of the car a lot and the feeling was instantly better compared to last year's car and my performance at Valencia improved progressively with each passing lap. I feel ready to aim for a win and that will be my only target come the next round in Budapest.'
