Google+ Jack Leslie F1: Interview 1: Daniel Daykin

30 November 2011

Interview 1: Daniel Daykin

People may remember Daniel from previous guest articles and mentions on this site. He is an aspiring F1 journalist -like me - and is a very big Fernando Alonso fan.
(c) Octane Photographic
In this 3 part series I asked 3 F1 fans and bloggers the same 8 questions, with very different results.

Part 2 is my interview with Ilaria Costanzo
Part 3 is my interview with "Dusky Blogger"

1) What an amazing season, what has been your main highlight which has stood out above all the rest?

As a big Fernando Alonso fan it would be the British Grand Prix. A great race with lots of excitement, and the right man winning. However, I would probably also suggest the brilliant excitement throughout the season. Lots of quality driving going on, lots of skill.


2) If you had to give the award "driver of the season" to some one, who would it be?

It has to be Sebastian Vettel. He was just way ahead of the rest. He drove beautifully all season, and has to be driver of the year. A very worthy world champion. Honourable mentions also to Button and Alonso, who also got everything out of their cars.


3) The Grand Prix's have been a mix of predictable, mad and dramatic, what would you say has been the best race this season and why?

I would say the Chinese Grand Prix. There was loads going on! Lewis Hamilton's brilliant overtaking on Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, the excitement of Vettel's poor start, Alonso and Schumacher battling for seventh, and who can forget Mark Webber's amazing drive from finishing the first lap 20th all the way to passing Button on the last lap for a podium place. What a race!

4) If you could combine 3 sectors from all the tracks of the 2011 season together, which sectors would you choose and why?

First Sector: Singapore
Second Sector: Germany
Third Sector: Korea
I've tried to go for different and unusual choices. Singapore's first sector is brilliant, the difficult Turn One followed by a hairpin. Then there are two straights which sweep on to each other. A very hard first sector, and a real thrill when you get it right. The second sector at Germany is full of fast, flowing corners. The sharp left hander, followed by a sharp right hander, followed by the infamous Dunlop Curve, the intensely difficult hairpin. This is followed by the Schumacher S, a corner you try to take flat, but get it wrong, and your lap is done. The Kuhmo Curve, a very sharp left hander followed by a corner that can be taken flat with great precision. You move into Turns 12 and 13, which are so difficult. So, my third sector. We go to South Korea for my third sector. Turn 13, just before where Mark Webber crashed last year, is followed with 14, a very short straight which requires perfect braking for 15. The desire to shave a few tenths off intensifies into Turn 17, which is a sweeping corner. You then have to get a perfect exit out of Turn 18, onto the pit straight to finish your lap.

5) What is your view on the new 2011 features? DRS, KERS and Pirelli?

I like DRS. I think it has added a new dimension into the sport, and at times has worked really well. It is best utilised when it creates a new overtaking place, rather than improve the best one already on the track. Germany, Korea and Brazil worked well for DRS. However, there are times where it has been a disaster, like in Canada, where is made overtaking a breeze. As for KERS, well I think it is very useful and tactical when defending or attacking. The more intelligent drivers have used KERS to their advantage at the start, the best example of this being Fernando Alonso's storming start and slip streaming using KERS in Spain from 4th to 1st. Pirelli tyres had much promise, and created brilliant strategy battles at the start of the season. We enjoyed Sergio Perez successfully doing a one stop strategy in Australia, and this showed how the tyres can be worked, but only if you know how to. I was a bit disappointed with Pirelli towards the end, they got a bit conservative and less experimental I think.

6) Do you think the new features have been successful and proved their purpose?

Yes, absolutely.

7) With so many rumours surrounding the driver market, if you had to choose a driver to leave F1 and a driver to come into it who would they be?

Erm, I think Jarno Trulli. He's had his time in Formula One, and hasn't done anything. Look at how much he is being beaten by Kovalainen at Lotus. He doesn't even seem to be enjoying racing right now, and that's a shame. I'd like to see someone from the recent Young Drivers' test promoted, there was a lot of talent on display there.

8) Firstly I am a big fan of your blog, what are the plans for the future and do you want this to be the start of a career?

Well thank you, and yes I am very interested in being a F1 journalist. I have lots of plans for the future for my blog (http://formulaonetalk.blogspot.com), starting with the off season. I will be reviewing the season in great detail, assessing every driver and team, as well as offering some competitions. I have plans for an "Awards of the 2011 Season", and I am going to delve into the sports history, taking a look at Classic Races. In terms of the long term future, I hope to get more members, and gain more popularity. I love doing my blog and put every effort in. I have lots of interesting plans for the future, and already some people know about it.

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