Aitken (Campos): “I'm a little too demanding of myself”

When did you arrive in Austria and by what means?

I arrived on Wednesday. I'm lucky, I was able to come by plane with Williams. It was simpler than for some, who had to come by car or who saw their flights cancelled.

Concretely, what changes to the protocol in the paddock?

Areas normally open to all teams such as the pitlane are inaccessible. In the paddock, you must wear a mask at all times and respect strict safety distances of two or three meters. But suffice to say that with all these constraints, which are necessary, we do not socialize too much.  

Given the circumstances, did you prepare differently from the last two years?

We are preparing to experience a season very different from previous ones, so yes, obviously. We had a three-month break this winter, then only three days of testing before another three months without driving. Like all the other pilots, I tried to do karting or to drive slower single-seaters, to make sure I haven't rusted.

Do we have the right to say that you are one of the favorites this season?

That’s nice of you (laughs). Yes, I think we can say that. This is my goal, I make no secret of it. The grid is very tough this year, but I am lucky to be able to continue a second year with Campos. I know the guys well now and I have confidence in the whole team to do a big job. Above all, we must ensure that we do not make any mistakes.

Who do you fear most on the grid?

It's hard to say. In F2, you never really know before three or four races who will play in front. What is certain is that the usual big teams like ART, DAMS, Uni-Virtuosi and Prema will be in the mix. There are a lot of good rookies, especially the top 3 of the F3 from last year (Shwartzman, Armstrong, Daruvala). But also more experienced drivers like Luca Ghiotto and Artem Markelov. We'll know soon.  

What will be the key to the season?

It will certainly be a good start, since we don't know how many rounds there will be on the program. You will have to be very concentrated. This will be the key.

Is the difference between the old 13 inch tires and the new 18 inch tires big?

They're not that different, no. Honestly, I was expecting a big shake-up compared to last year, but that's not the case. There are still slight changes to the car's behavior, particularly in the middle of corners. And the grip is really better.

Last season, you had three wins but no pole. This will have to be remedied this year...

Yes. For sure. It is also a priority. Reaching pole is really important. I am confident that I can fight to get ahead in the race. But what matters most is winning the championship.

How do you explain your difficulties with the exercise?

Every situation is different. But sometimes I'm a little too demanding of myself. I really want to go for the perfect lap so I can sometimes over-drive a little. This is how tiny mistakes happen. Afterwards, without making a mistake, he often missed a little something all the same. So the team and I will work to correct the situation.  

After two seasons in F2, are you obliged to win the championship to have your chance in F1 ?

It's hard to say. In F1, the market reality is complex. There is not just one way to achieve this. What is certain is that I will have to show performance and drive well. Afterwards, even if I don't win the championship but I display a high level of performance, I think Williams will be satisfied.

You are also a reserve driver for Williams. Your chances of racing in F1 in this role have never been greater than this year with Covid-19…

Yes of course. I also did some extra preparation, just in case. And not just on the driving aspect. There are differences in flying procedures and configurations between George Russell's cars and Nicholas latifi. Their way of working with engineers is not the same either. I have been in this position before with Renault, so I'll be there for Williams if the situation calls for it.