In his latest exclusive column for Crash.net, GP2 race-winner Bruno Senna reflects on a promising rookie season in Formula 1's feeder series, as well as dropping some hints as to where he will be in 2008 and talking about returning to the circuit he calls 'the best in the world' one last time…I think 2007 was a pretty good season for our first year. GP2 was initially a big step-up from F3. The races are longer; you have to get used to the distance and it's more physical. You need to be fit both mentally and physically so as to be consistently quick all the time and get to the end of the races without making mistakes.
There are also greater tactics involved and you have to handle the strategy a bit more. The cars are different to drive too – the power isn't a big deal, but the brakes are. It's a fair jump in terms of driving style and you're racing against a more competitive group, but I think I adapted pretty decently.
At the beginning of the year my aim was to finish in the top ten overall, get as many good results as possible and try to win a race along the way. It was about gaining experience as much as anything.
Winning in Barcelona was a good confidence boost. At that time things were going better than I had expected, and performing so well so early in the season released the pressure off my shoulders a bit, because it meant it wasn't as if I had to spend the year trying to get a good result; I got it so early on. That was a pretty good thing for me.
The high points are always the good results and qualifying sessions. The low points for me were some races when we really struggled; there were times when we were miles off the pace, and in those situations it was really hard to identify the problem without resorting to desperation. There were some difficult times when I just needed to focus and learn as much as possible, and whenever we started the round off badly we always tried to develop and improve over the course of the weekend.
In the end I achieved all my expectations, but obviously when you start a season off as well as I did, sometimes you can have trouble later on that causes you to finish not so high up. That can be a bit frustrating, but it's just how it is; our first year was always meant to be about learning, and now I'm looking forward to next season. It should be quite interesting.
I've tested with both iSport and Campos in recent weeks – I think with the results I've achieved some other teams are realising my potential. I have good negotiating terms with them, and both are teams I'm talking to. Obviously Campos is a Spanish team, and we have a good connection with Santander, but we also have a good relationship with iSport and at the end of the day the sponsors have to see that my management and I understand better than they do what are the best steps to take. Campos are clearly very competitive and have a very strong technical team, so at the moment we are just seeking out what is the best move.
We expect to have a decision fairly soon. Right now we're fully focussed on the Macau Grand Prix, so I'm not thinking about 2008 too much. My sister and manager Bianca is back in Brazil, negotiating at full steam ahead for next year and speaking to the sponsors, so I think it should all be decided within the next two to three weeks.
I think this will be my last opportunity to drive an F3 car in Macau; in my opinion the Guia circuit is the best in the world and I really love the event. For me it's the best race in the world too, and it's a great opportunity for me to be able to come here and compete again. I'm really motivated by my passion for the race.
There is some pressure of course. I didn't come here to compete, I came to win, but at the same time I need to be realistic and give myself some time to learn and dial myself back into the F3 car, especially during the first day's practice and qualifying. I'm going to just step into it slowly, and then when the time is right push hard and try to get the result.
I'll catch you soon,
BrunoTo keep up-to-date with Bruno's latest news, see http://www.brunosenna.co.uk
