Arjun Maini Q&A: Life as a development driver with Haas F1 Team

The Indian driver opens up about his role with Haas, his past with Force India and the future.

Darshan Chokhani posted in Motorsport India & World

3y ago

6.1K

Formula 1's newest outfit Haas F1 Team signed upcoming Indian racer Arjun Maini as its development driver last year on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix. Maini become its second signing after American Santino Ferrucci.

The Bangalorean coupled his development role with a full season in the GP3 Series with Jenzer Motorsport - the same team with whom he made his debut in 2016 after a mid-season switch from the FIA European F3 Championship.

After signing with Haas, Maini made an immediate impact. The Indian claimed a historic first GP3 win in the sprint race in Barcelona, fending off Trident's Dorian Boccolacci beautifully. However, a couple of off weekends put a brake on his championship charge.

The scene totally changed in Monza and Jerez particularly as he then had a fight on his hands to keep himself inside the Top 10. With a podium in the season finale, Maini was able to finish ninth in the standings with 72 points to his name.

Behind the scenes, the 20-year-old was already up to the task with Haas, completing two simulator sessions at Ferrari's HQ in Maranello. In addition, he also went through several weekend with the American team while also attended the Hungary in-season test.

Together with his mentor Karun Chandhok, the Indian went through the development programme, which in today's time has become essential for any driver. It gives drivers a chance to work his way up the ladder in a methodical manner, knowing the demands of a F1 team.

Arjun with the GP3 race winning trophy [Copyright: Arjun Maini]

Arjun with the GP3 race winning trophy [Copyright: Arjun Maini]

Here's Maini explaining us how the deal with Haas came about and what all goes behind the scenes when affiliated with a F1 squad, while he also adds on his time with Force India, help from Chandhok and his future:

Q) Let's begin, when and how did the talks with Haas came about? How different was the negotiation than say a GP3 deal?

AM: "We started with the meeting in November last year with Guenther and of course the talks go on and on. But the deal was signed not long before Barcelona [when it was announced]. You have to see in a way that they wouldn’t take me unless there’s mutual benefit.

"So, it is always you look at how they can benefit from me and how can from them. From the talks we realised that it will be a mutual benefit for both of us and that’s how the deal came about. It wasn’t something crazy difficult, it was straightforward negotiation."

Q) Anything which surprised you during the talks?

AM: "What surprises you is where you have the meeting - you walk through the paddock. But in the end, the business is business, we talked the same. We put down what we want, they out down what they want from us.

"I can’t elaborate too much but in a way for me it’s essential with them with the simulator driving and just with the support of Haas, I am getting a bit of recognition throughout India."

Q) You touched upon simulator, you have done some good running in the Ferrari's sim in their HQ. How was it?

AM: "They put in millions of dollars on it so when you go into a simulator, it is different. It is serious. One is not allowed to talk a lot about it. When in a session, we want to start learning the F1 way of working, with the steering wheel, with the radio, with the engineers and understanding how they work.

"Everything is much more complicated with all the buttons on the wheel, to learn all the functionalities. Initially it is difficult, but then you get a better understanding of it. I had basic simulator programmes, we did a qualifying sim and a race sim, then a balance and plan tests….just the basic things. I did over 200 laps across two days at different times."

Q) How will you sum-up your journey on the sidelines with Haas? And the differences as such from being in GP3?

AM: "The debriefs contain a lot more people (laughs). When you look at GP3, it is only you, your engineer and driver coach, that’s it. In F1, you are debriefing with 12-14 people and engineers at the same time, everybody is listening in, there’s a lot of cross-checking going on whether the change was good or not. You come up with answers which are based on facts because you have all the sensors on the car so you know if something has worked or not.

"In GP3, sometimes you can doubt, maybe it worked, maybe it didn’t – that’s the difference in F1. You have more precise way of doing it and that’s what you expect. And of course, it is interesting listening in the radio, a lot more of radio chatter going on in F1 than GP3 because there’s so much more to do."

Q) Have you started sharing your inputs in the debriefs yet and how much spoken with the core team, drivers?

AM: "At the moment, it is just my job to learn everything. I think I am not in the position to give the inputs yet because it will be wrong, I am not experienced enough yet but it is getting me ready. When I am ready and good to deliver and can start making my inputs, I’ll be 100 percent sure of what I am talking about. That’s what I am focused on.

"I have spent a lot of time with Kevin’s engineer Giuliano Salvi. He ran me on the sim, so you learn a lot when speaking to such experienced engineers and it is interesting to see the way they work as well. As for the drivers, I haven’t interacted much yet, since they have lot of work to do during the weekends.

"From what I have done so far, it is a lot already. And I have only time for that because during the weekends I am also busy and you don’t want to spend so much time in F1 because you are focusing on GP3. But I went for the in-season Hungary test and it was pretty cool being there with full concentration on the test and not half your mind in GP3 and half in F1 during race weekends."

Q) Anything which has surprised you so far being in F1?

AM: "To be honest the way you give the feedback as drivers, it doesn’t change at all. You say what you feel about the car, it is same in F1. It is just that the rest are a lot more details slightly, like the things with the wheels, you just got more to talk about. You can adjust everything, so you got to talk about all aspects, the balance, then engine performance, drivability and so on."

Q) While you are set to stay in Haas for another year but what about your first test drive? Plus, on the development deal, are you taking it on a year by year basis?

AM: "I think I want to get into the car only when I am ready. I don’t want to get into a car when I am not because I think that will do both of us not good. That’s exactly what Guenther said before and I am sure when I am ready, they will give me the chance. Yes, we are taking it on a year by year basis. We will see how it goes by the end of next year. I am quite happy with them and I think they are as well for what I have done."

Q) Have they given you any goals for when you were in GP3 and for 2018?

AM: "I think they understand that results can be manipulated in so many ways, so they expect great performances from me and same for Santino. We deliver the best we can. They have extended with me, so obviously they are happy with what I have done. They realise the bad luck I have had [in 2017]."

Q) In a way Haas is not the first F1 team you have been associated with. You did win the 'One In A Billion' programme initiated by Force India. How was that association?

AM: "I am grateful to Force India, I am thankful to them. They started off my career in Europe and I have continued it. Like I said, I have grown and improved a lot since then. I am sure they are looking at my results.

"I have spoken to Otmar [Szafnauer] as well few times in the paddock, I have run into Bob [Robert Fernley], they are happy with what I am doing, so that’s good. But at the moment, I am fully with the Haas programme and they are fully behind me."

Q) You have since been with Karun Chandhok, who was a great help for your Haas deal as well?

AM: Yeah, Karun played a key role in a lot of things, especially the Haas deal was started by him like organising the meetings and taking it. Then Karun is always on the grid with me, giving me some last minute advices and he’s always there to call me after the sessions to understand what’s going on.

"So, he’s helping me in every aspect, whether it’s driving or it’s the media side or for tips for fitness. I think Karun’s been absolutely incredible and I am happy to have somebody like him. It is a shame not more top drivers do something like this to help the youngsters on the grid. I have massive respect for him."

Q) Currently, it is you and Jehan Daruvala, who have been regarded as the front-runners to make it to F1. How is your relationship with him?

AM: "Well, it is not like we are Whatsapp buddies, but of course, I am in good terms with Jehan. It is not like we are fighting as such, it is a professional relation. He shares his plans for the future, I share mine. We have good conversations when we meet.

"I think he has done a really good job [in his first year in European F3 with Carlin]. Obviously, he’s had really really good races and he’s had some downs as well, just like myself. [But then] you never know the big picture unless you are behind the scenes with them."

Q) In your short single-seater career you have raced against some good names, who were the toughest and is it a nice feeling to know that some of the drivers you raced are doing well in the F1 radar?

AM: "I had massive battles with Mercedes junior [George] Russell in 2014, I’ll name him as one of them for sure. I would name Alfa Romeo Sauber driver [Charlec] Leclerc and even my GP3 teammate [Alessio] Lorandi. With the racing driver ago, I think I am faster than them, but that’s if you don’t think you are, you might as well give up now.

"It is good to know that when me and Russell were teammates in 2014 in BRDC F4, we had three points separating us in the championship and I have shown that I am as fast or quicker than Russell at some point during the year.

"I’ll be honest that I was not ready for European F3 in 2015, but I have massive respect for what’s Leclerc done by winning the FIA Formula 2 title in 2017 as a rookie - that is something unbelievable."

Q) Back to F1, is there any timeline for you to make your debut? And if not F1, you have any other series in mind?

AM: "To be honest, I am going to use Guenther’s quote here, 'when you are ready, you are ready.' People get ready at different times, Max [Verstappen] was ready very early. Lando [Norris], I think, he’s not 100 percent, that’s why I think he’s doing F2, but on the performance so far, it seems like he’s improving a lot quicker.

"I am not at my potential yet, I might take a bit longer to get there but I know that when I at my potential I’ll be ready to step into a F1 car. As for other series, I don’t have a plan, but if I get the opportunity, I’ll be very welcome to drive anything.

"You have seen before, Paul di Resta and Pascal Wherlein coming from DTM, in the future maybe guys from Formula E will do the same. I am a racing driver and I’ll drive whatever I get the opportunity.

"There’s nothing saying that if I go to Formula E then it doesn’t mean that I am not focused on F1. I still got to do F1. It is same with [Brendon] Hartley. His opportunity came [so] late. I still want to get to F1, that’s the goal, but I am welcome to drive whatever I get my hands on."

While his 2018 programme is yet to be confirmed with a possible graduation to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Haas' Steiner indicated that he and Ferrucci will be retained as their development drivers for another year: drivetribe.com/p/exclusive-haas-set-to-retain-maini-J9P-BZ9-RkCESooFuK1sEQ?iid=I1b5tWOMTsy_sODVqlHfBQ

Race action [Copyright: GP3 Media Service]