Next weekend Formula 1 drivers will race at famous and historical Suzuka circuit. The stereotype of non-European races is that they are neither climatic nor captured by many fans, but upcoming round in Japan definitely breaks it. At the beginning of the week, on Monday, we published a short chat with Nobuharu Matsushita who is, without any shadow of doubt, the biggest Asian hope for successful career in Formula 1. Today we present longer conversation representing ART Grand Prix in GP2 series competitor, where he share with us many interesting points of view, which rather doesn't match the European ones. What do you think, is it because of his typical eyes...?
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Wojtek Paprota: Nobuharu, this is your first season in GP2 series - how do you find yourself here?
Nobuharu Matushita: Yes, this is my first time in this championship and I really enjoy it. Last year I drove Formula 3 in Japan and I thought that it and it was really touch, but this season is even more tough. There are much more competitive drivers and completely new Pirelli tires, what are very difficult to use for me. Now I feel confident for the tires because I have really improved my tire-management, in compare to last year.
Wojtek: This is also your first season in Europe and I guess that you had to find yourself another home and make some new friends. Was it difficult to change everything in your live?
Nobuharu: Despite the fact that I live far from home, it is not much different, because I live in Paris, what is really great city in terms of all the standards and it is multi-cultured as well. Of course language is different but is not a big problem for me. What I have to do is the same, there is no big change so I just focus on racing.
Wojtek: Last year you won the Japanese Formula 3 championship and graduated to GP2 series for this year to ART Grand Prix. Last year Takuya Izawa was driving this car, who also had won one of the Japanese single sitter category, Super Formula, the year before, but he didn't manage to maintain his seat. As far as I know he is racing in Japan in any GT category in Kunimitsu Takahashi's team. Do you think that in your case it may be the same story, that you will not get the second chance?
Nobuharu: Yes, Takuya is racing in Super GT now. I don't know what will happen with me. I really don't know. To be honest, my dream is to reach Formula 1 and I would like to focus only on the way what can guide me there. This way is the European way and I don't want to come back to Japan. I don't know what will happen next year because I have contract only for this season and when it finishes, Honda will make a decision.
Wojtek: What about your sponsors' plans? Are they interested in investing money in your career in Europe?
Nobuharu: I am not sure. I am Honda's driver, they are my main sponsor and I have the biggest support from them at the moment. I don't know what they will decide about next year but I hope to keep it this way. As I said, my dream is Formula 1 and Honda is involved in Formula 1 so I hope that in near future I will be there with them.
Wojtek: Do you think that you came to Europe at the right time or you should have done it a little bit earlier?
Nobuharu: Of course Europe is home of motorsport and the earlier you come here, the better. The best way for me would be to come here, to ART Grand Prix, a bit earlier, maybe one year earlier. I would have had much more time to learn and develop here.
Wojtek: What have you already learnt in GP2 series this season so far, something what you haven't experienced in Asia?
Nobuharu: Quite a lot. The biggest point is of course tire-management, because of Pirelli. Last year I was using Yokohama tires. Apart from Formula 3, they also supply tires to WTCC, so their structure is much different. Cars in Formula 3 are much lighter than in GP2, so they are also easier to drive. In GP2 you have to use some more strength to drive the car, but you can't be so aggressive as well, otherwise you would destroy the tires. It is really difficult to balance and it is the biggest change this year.
Wojtek: Your team mate, Stoffel Vandoore is leading the championship now and everybody is pretty sure that he will win the title this season. He is really experienced, also due to the fact that he is McLaren development driver - how much have you already learnt from him?
Nobuharu: For sure, you are right, he is probably the best driver in GP2 now. Obviously I have learnt from him a lot. As he is leading the championship it is great situation for me. I know many details from him, also from the telemetry, and I can't imagine to have a better partner now.
Wojtek: Has anything changed in Japanese motorsport culture when Honda came back to Formula 1 as McLaren's engine supplier?
Nobuharu: To be sure the interest is as big as it has always been in Japan. Fans are definitely more excited and I think that when Honda prepares even stronger package for next year, it will be even bigger.
Wojtek: 30 years ago when Honda was coming to Formula 1, they also had pretty bad results and it took them 5 seasons to develop their engines to that position, that McLaren drivers were winning most of the races. Do you think that this time it will all look the same as in the 80's?
Nobuharu: I am not too much into the Formula 1 history so I don't exactly know how the situation looked then. Nevertheless, this year is their first season in Formula 1 after the break and I think that Honda has a huge potential to be shown next season. They are new team and I hope that they will do better in the future.
