Spa, Regen, Eau Rouge – A learning weekend
to Benjamin Mazatis
Benjamin Mazatis defies the rain: first Formula race in wet conditions. Best qualifying performance of the season remains unrewarded in the end.
I had never driven in wet conditions at Spa before, so it was completely new territory for me.
Rain, sun, Eau Rouge! Benjamin Mazatis experienced the legendary Formula 1 circuit of Spa Francorchamps from every angle. Last weekend, the junior driver from Bruckmühl started the third race weekend of the season on the traditional Belgian circuit with the ADAC Formula 4.
Benjamin, your start in Spa was very confident. In qualifying, you achieved your best results this season. Are you satisfied with your performance?
The qualifying session was quite tricky because it was raining heavily when our group was up. I had never driven in wet conditions at Spa before, so it was completely new territory for me. I felt my way to the limit on my first laps until a red flag interrupted the session. After that, things went well for me and I was quite fast. In the end, I qualified for the ninth and eighth starting rows. With almost 40 cars in the field, that was a decent achievement. Unfortunately, a small trip at the Rivage corner cost me a lot of time, otherwise a place in fifth row would have been possible. I'm filing that under accumulated experience; it is, after all, my very first year in single-seater racing.
You didn't finish higher than 23rd in the first race. Why didn't you manage a better position after your good qualifying performance?
The race was unfortunately quite annoying for me. After the start, another car tried to brake me to overtake. However, it went a bit too wide and damaged my front wing. That was unfortunate, but I couldn't just disappear. After the collision, the aerodynamics of my car were naturally impaired. I could no longer drive through Eau Rouge at full throttle, for example. On the subsequent Kemmel Straight, I had no chance due to the lack of speed and fell back. That pretty much ruined my race. It was quite stupid, because according to the regulations, I then had to start the third race from 23rd place.
The second race was pretty hectic out on track and several cars retired. How did you find the action in the rain?
Yes, there was a lot going on around me. It was also my first Formula 1 race in the rain, and at the start I first had to adjust my braking points. Because of the spray, I could hardly see anything from the cockpit and needed a few laps to get used to the conditions. However, I was able to defend my 15th place until I slid into the run-off area in the Pouhon corner on the wet track. Unfortunately, that cost me several positions. 21st place is certainly not a dream result, but I was able to gain a lot of experience for the rest of the season. For my very first wet race, the performance was okay.
What was it like for a young racer like yourself to deal with the difficult weather conditions on such a demanding track?
The challenge in the rain is to adapt as quickly as possible and know how fast you can take each corner. On the one hand, you can't drive too fast, otherwise you risk spinning out and thus collisions with other cars. On the other hand, you can't take too much time finding the limit, otherwise you'll be easy prey for the others on the following straights. It's all about finding the right compromise quickly. I managed to do that well over the course of the weekend. In contrast to some other drivers, I saw the chequered flag in all three races. And I definitely feel well-prepared for further rainy races.
Perhaps you'll need to fit rain tyres again in just two weeks, when the fourth race weekend of the year is held at the Lausitzring...
Quite possible, the weather in Lusatia is rather unpredictable. Personally, I wouldn't mind it raining again, as I think my chances would improve. However, for the fans at the track, I'm wishing for sunshine, as it is the home race for my team kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport. Therefore, we will be under special observation this weekend, and I would be delighted to score my first points in the ADAC Formula 4. I last tested at the Lausitzring in early March. It went quite well, but it was extremely cold. The significance of the tests is therefore limited. My performance curve has shown a steady upward trend recently – and I want it to continue that way, as I am getting more and more used to handling the Formula 4 racing car.
That was unfortunate, but I couldn't just disappear.