Rodin Carlin, like many teams up and down the pit lane, will feel hugely disappointed with the outcome of the Sprint Race in Zandvoort being effectively cancelled due to the conditions with no points being awarded.
Stephanie Carlin, Team Principal of Rodin Carlin caught up with InsideF2 to talk about today’s Sprint Race, yesterday’s Qualifying performance and former Carlin F2 driver Liam Lawson who made his Formula 1 debut this weekend:
“Obviously it’s a little bit frustrating that it got cancelled, with the red flags it was a shame because we were really in contention there and we were doing really well to manage the conditions.”
“But, really at the end of the day, we have to look at the conditions that the drivers were in. Visibility was really really poor, and this is already a really challenging, unique circuit with fast corners and little run-off area.”
“I think we have seen all day that, in all the races and in qualifying there have been lots of incidents and probably the right call to make. Quite happy to have all 4 wheels on both cars and we’ll go again tomorrow.”
With Zane Maloney qualifying P4 and team mate Enzo Fittipaldi being shuffled down the order to P19 after the late red flag in Qualifying on Friday spoiled his chances of improving up the order.
Track position proved key for Maloney in securing his Top 5 grid spot and the alternate run plan for Fittipaldi didn’t quite pay off.
“It turned out to be absolutely key (for Zane) and poor Enzo who was only a couple of seconds behind, it had the opposite fortune and his lap didn’t quite count and it would have put him well within the Top 10.”
“So really unfortunate with Enzo, we tried something a bit different sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t.”
Looking ahead to the Feature Race tomorrow, Carlin predicted a difficult afternoon for Fittipaldi starting down the order but believes there could be chances to capitalise on.
“But I think you know here qualifying is so important so it is going to be really hard for Enzo tomorrow but as we’ve seen it can be Safety cars and all kinds of things so we are just going to try our best.”
The big Formula 1 news over the weekend was that former Carlin F2 driver Lawson was stepping in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo this weekend. Carlin was very pleased for her former driver:
“Firstly, I hope Daniel gets better soon. Great to see Liam get his opportunity which was much deserved, I think it’s a huge ask to make his F1 debut part way through the weekend on one of the most challenging circuits of the year in horrendous conditions.”
“It’s a big learning curve for him but he’s a sensible guy, a quick and talented driver and I think it’s really about learning something in every session and I am sure it’ll be a great experience for him and he really deserves it.”
We will see what the Rodin Carlin duo can achieve in the Feature Race on Sunday.
Image: Formula Motorsport Limited
