F1 | Abu Dhabi GP | Giovinazzi: "This won't be my last race in Formula 1"
Antonio Giovinazzi said he had three amazing years at Alfa Romeo, where he grew up as a driver and as a person, and that now he's totally focused his next challenge in Formula E.
After three years together, Alfa Romeo said goodbye to its drivers in Abu Dhabi. From next year the lineup of the Italian-Swiss team will be brand new, with Valtteri Bottas and rookie Guanyu Zhou.
To celebrate the farewell, Alfa Romeo Racing decided to use a special livery on both on Giovinazzi’s and Raikkonen’s car, as the world champion decided to retire at the end of this season, and the 28-year-old Italian will race in Formula E with Dragon-Penske next year.
Say it in carbon: Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN to feature livery message for Kimi and Antonio in Abu Dhabi 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jh3HYKkl0X
— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) December 9, 2021
After last Sunday's race that decided the fate of a very thight and breathtaking world championship, Giovinazzi commented on F1.com's microphones on his unlucky race, like that of his teammate Raikkonen, both in fact had to retire in the middle of the race because of a gearbox problem.
“Our reliability this eason was actually great, we never stopped, never DNF, until now,” – he said – “I don’t know what happened to me and Kimi, bu to be honest, both our races until then were not bad at all.
“We were fighting with Sebastian, trying to keep him behind, nothing was happening in the front so it was a boring race until that moment.
Then he focused on his journey with Alfa Romeo, spending positive words for the team that made him grow as a driver and as a person, and saying that he’s ready for his next challenge, even if he hopes that one day his path and Formula 1 will meet again.
“I’m happy with myself, with the progress, how I grew up as a driver, as a person.
“If I see myself in race one in 2019 and I see myself now, for sure a better driver, a better person. I’m happy with myself. I think we didn’t achieve what we deserved in the last three years, especially this year, but you know, it's racing, it's a sport and I cannot change anything from the past,” he stated.
“But now full focus on my next challenge in Formula E, and I hope that in 2022 I can come back, I want to think positive and for this I don’t think that this will be my last race in F1.”
It’s going to be thrilling 👌
— Antonio Giovinazzi (@Anto_Giovinazzi) November 16, 2021
It’s going to be challenging 💪
It’s going to be: …….electrifying!!!!!! ⚡
Non vedo l’ora di iniziare questa nuova avventura, ci sarà da divertirsi, insieme, come sempre 💙#AG99🐝 #dragonpenskeautosport #formulae pic.twitter.com/2mQ1WEtvF0
“I feel emotional to be honest, because this was the last race with Kimi,” - He added when he was asked about his last race and Raikkonen's one - “It’s been a pleasure working with a great drive like him, a really fair, good person. I think all the Circus will miss him, because we won’t find another Kimi in F1, I’m sure of this.
“It’s been a good three years, I knew him before five years already in Ferrari and it’s been a good relationship with him.”
You’ve seen cool. Now you’ve seen this 😍
— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) December 10, 2021
Antonio’s helmet for the weekend is inspired by that worn by Kimi during his World Championship season of 2007, and features a message of thanks to the Finn as the duo completes three years as team-mates. pic.twitter.com/TzyGD3UPm5
