Starring Giovinazzi targeting Alfa Romeo stay for F1 2022

The 27-year-old Italian has made a step forward in his third year with Alfa Romeo and has been one of the stars of the 2021 season so far, even if his impressive performances have gone under the radar. 

At the Monaco Grand Prix last time out, Giovinazzi scored Alfa Romeo’s first point of 2021 and now he is eager to extend his deal with the team and secure his future in F1.

Asked if he had any news on his future, Giovinazzi said: “I don’t know, we’ll see what will happen. 

“The only thing I can do now is do a good job, drive fast and then we’ll see what will happen next year. 

“I would really, really like to stay here also next year, at my team I’m still in,” he added. “Staying for the third season, I know the people really well. I have a good relationship with the people inside, with Fred [Vasseur, Alfa Romeo team principal] as well.

“So we’ll see what will happen but for now I can just focus on myself and we’ll see what will happen.”

Giovinazzi believes his hard work in his quest to improve is paying off, and feels that having the experience of Kimi Raikkonen as a teammate has also helped him develop into a better driver. 

“It’s my third season in Formula 1 so I have more experience,” he explained. 

“You know, I think this year we have a faster car, faster power unit, so we can have more fun and when you feel better in the car, you can be on the limit, push more. 

“From my side, my target for this season was to improve myself in the second season and I’m happy that all this work in the winter is still working and I need to keep working to find more on myself. I still can improve a lot.

“Also to have Kimi alongside me is a help, a big help because he’s an experienced driver, a fast driver. So, it’s good to have him, learn from him and I’m happy that all this work, like I mentioned before, is paying off.” 

Speaking about Giovinazzi’s performances so far this year, Alfa Romeo team boss Vasseur added: “For me he improved probably more in the race management than in the quali pace. 

“That quali pace was already there in the second part of last season and now he’s also able to do a very good management during the race and to have strong race pace.”