Sergio Canamasas just came back from a GP2 weekend at Monza where he escaped injury after a scary flip over. This is young Spaniard’s fifth season in the series and he managed to focus some critique at himself. This is one of the topics he discussed with Roksana Ćwik.
GP2 race at Monza. Few corners into and… you are flipping in the air. Is there a time to think at those moments?
Yes there is. The time actually goes much slower but at this time you only want that it to end well.
Many make you responsible for a clash with Arthur Pic. What is your point of view about this situation?
Obviously I am not. He had enough room at the inside as I gave him two car widths. The problem is that he was setting up the move at Ascari and as he accelerated driving on the kerb, he lost control of the car. After the stewards saw the videos, they declared him the responsible and gave him a 5-place grid penalty for next race.
This year was the first for the European Grand Prix in Baku. Do you think it is a suitable place to hold a race?
It is an incredible track. It rewards taking risks and the one who takes most wins. I was very racy there, I enjoyed driving at that track. I don’t know if there will be some problems in the future as some areas is tight the run off areas. But obviously they will be for sure improved.
You finished 2014 season with Trident as 2nd in Monaco and a year later you were third with MP Motorsport. Does this place bear a special meaning to you or is it just as any other track?
Of course I like to drive there. Is my favourite track. It’s very challenging.
You probably hear people who don’t want you to get a super licence or say you should have been given black flags on numerous occasions. How do you react to this critique?
I think people sometimes are stressed and needs to release tension. Most of them they are people who watch sporadic races.
In 2009 you were racing in Formula 3 for Emilio de Villota. Did you get a chance to meet Maria? What was she like?
Yes of course. She was a very charismatic girl. She was very self-confident, and was giving lessons to younger drivers at their school. I remember that she enjoyed motorsport a lot, and that’s what is important. Their family was giving full support to her, and I do remember it was great to see it.
Currently there is a lot of buzz about Max Verstappen and his driving which some call dangerous and other exciting. What do you think?
I think he is on the limit. The problem comes when there is an accident. People tend to forget that this is motor racing and that we travel at 300 km/h fighting for the win and not stuck in traffic waiting for the lights to change. But is true that a couple of them at least they are arguable.
The best memory of your career?
First podium in Monaco in front of my family.
Who was your biggest opponent on the track to this day?
The good thing in motorsport is that you are always finding other different drivers that makes things a bit more difficult. But up to date I have never found a driver who has truly challenged me.
You are involved in racing for quite few years now. What was the biggest change you ever encountered?
From F3 to World Series by Renault. Quite a radical change, twice as power, and twice more downforce.
What is your favourite and least favourite track and why?
Monaco, because I enjoy the thrill of going almost 300 km/h at 1 cm from the barrier. And while I don’t like to point fingers, but Austria is quite a flat track in terms of enjoyment.
You race before Formula 1. Does F1 drivers approach you to consult the conditions?
They approach the race itself by watching at our race. Is good to receive a congratulation afterward, because they’ve watched you racing.
What are your aims for the future?
The upcoming future to win a race in GP2. And far away it will be good to drive a Formula 1 car again.
