Jasin Ferati Newsletter No. 3 / 2021 (April 20)
Lesson for Jasin Ferati
Difficult premiere for Jasin Ferati in Formula 3: The 17-year-old from Winterthur finished 22nd in the first Formula Regional race in Imola, but got stuck in the gravel bed in the second race after an early spin.
Jasin Ferati was not lucky that he was allowed to occupy the stand in front of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes pits in the support race of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. In his very first Formula 3 race, the Winterthur Monolite driver improved from 28th on the grid to 22nd and gained a lot of experience in the process. He didn't get very far on the second try. A slip in the Piratella sent him into the gravel bed on the second lap and caused the safety car to be called out for the first of three times.
"I really didn't imagine my debut in this environment," said Ferati disappointed. “Like in the first race, I wanted to avoid all difficulties and bring the car back to the finish line, but I lost control of it without any prior notice. It is no consolation that the same mistake happened to others this weekend. I should have avoided it despite the less than ideal preparation.” Due to a change of date and severe food poisoning in Le Castellet, the newcomer from Winterthur was only able to complete a little more than half of the eight test days originally planned.
“I had to reckon with initial difficulties, not least because of the markedly restricted work in the simulator. But I didn't expect such a lesson," admits the 17-year-old apprentice. “Due to a lack of experience, I haven't yet gained complete confidence in the car, which is much faster than in Formula 4, in practice, and of course that's not the best prerequisites for the short qualifying sessions and the first races. This setback will not deter me from my path and my goals. I'll do everything to take a step in the other direction in Barcelona for my second appearance on the Formula 1 calendar. A third of the starting field from around the world is in a similar position and certainly within reach.”
The spectacular races of the newly created, extremely professional Formula Regional European Championships by Alpine offered thrilling racing at a high level as part of the Formula 1 weekend in Imola. Not unexpectedly, the season opener saw the veterans and the four top teams call the shots. A compatriot of Feratis in the top team Art Grand Prix, the 21-year-old Jurassic Grégoire Saucy, immediately took over the lead of the standings with a commanding victory in the second race. Second, four points behind, is Spanish Prema driver David Vidales, who won the first race. After the first race weekend, the best of the 17 rookies in the impressive list of participants is Formula 4 champion Gabriele Mini in 8th place with eight points. Axel Gnos from Geneva still has no points like Ferati, but based on his previous rankings he is 19th in the overall classification.
Imola, race 1: 1. David Vidales (Sp) 34:48,848. 2. Alex Quinn (GB), .202 back. 3. Hadrien David (Fr), 0.999. 4. Paul Aron (Est), 1,714. 5. Grégoire Saucy (Sz), 4.061. – Also: 17. Axel Gnos (Sz), 11,342. 22. Jasin Ferati (Sz), 16.802. – Reported 33, launched 30.
Race 2: 1. Saucy 32:37,148. 2. Aaron 1:134. 3. Zen Maloney (Barb), 1.606. 4.David 1:923. 5. William Alatalo (Fi), 3,038. – Further: 15 Gnos 22,390. – not classified: Ferati (turner).
classification after 2 of 20 races: 1. Saucy 35 points. 2 Vidales 31 3 Aron 30 4 David 27 5 Quinn 18 6 Alatalo 16 7 Maloney 15 8 Gabriele Mini (It) 8, first rookie. – Further: 27. Ferati 0.
Next races: 8th/9th May Barcelona.