On selected Thursdays across Formula 1’s European season, GPUpdate.net shares an insight into the up and coming stars of tomorrow. This time it’s British Formula 3 sensation Felipe Nasr who added to his ever-growing total of victories at Brands Hatch last weekend, moving 45 points clear in the championship standings.
Name Felipe Nasr
Born 21 August 1992, Brasília, Brazil
Age 18
Twitter @FelipeNasr
Current series British Formula 3
Team Carlin
Career in a nut shell Karting -> Formula BMW Americas -> Formula BMW Europe -> British F3
Did you know? Nasr is managed by Steve Robertson, the same man who has looked after Kimi Räikkönen’s racing career for numerous years. The pair joined forces in 2010 following Nasr’s highly impressive Formula BMW Europe campaign, where he finished on the podium 14 times out of 16 races.
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Two minutes with Felipe Nasr...
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How did you get interested in racing?
I was born in the middle of racing cars, you could say. My father and my uncle, because they are brothers, started racing. They have a Formula 3 and Stock Car team in Brazil, so since I was six years old I watched the races in my home town. It was really exciting to watch, but I never imagined I was going to be one of them. When I turned seven, my father took me to a kart track and he said, 'Today you’re going to try a little machine!'
I just felt it was one thing that was different to any other thing I’d done in my life, I was really in love with it. Since that moment I just couldn’t stop, I was taking it really seriously and then I entered professional karting championships. Until I turned 16 I was into go-karts, I’d done championships in Brazil, but I had not come to Europe to race. I had a successful career in karting and I won many important titles in Brazil.
What's your greatest achievement so far?
A few teams in Europe seemed to be interested in my talent, so I was invited to do BMW Europe in 2009. I had a deal with an Italian team, EuroInternational, and I won the championship with them, it was impressive. It was together with Formula 1 events in Europe, so that was good exposure. Having guys from Formula 1 watching, that was awesome because I hadn’t seen any of those tracks in my life.
I won six races, I was on the podium 14 times out of 16 and that was brilliant. 2009 was the best year for me, to start my career outside of my hometown. My car was sponsored by Red Bull from the middle of the season until the end and then we had Gravity (Sport Management) that was interested. But in the end we had the deal with Steve Robertson, he’s still managing Kimi Räikkönen.
So that’s it, I made the best step of my life to come to Europe in 2009 and find a guy like him who has trust in my talent. But, if we take the 2011 title with F3, I think it’s going to be the special one.
Do you have any racing heroes?
I’m a big fan of Ayrton Senna, since I was young. I was only two years old when he died, but I look up to him as a main character on and off the track. He was unbelievable, his determination to win and his focus. He would give everything to win and I was a fan. But also Alonso, Vettel and Schumacher, I had them as a reference as well because they all have great aspects as racing drivers, so I keep looking up to all of them.
Who excites you most on the current F1 grid?
I would say Alonso is the best one out there at the moment. But I’m just saying that, if you look at Vettel and Hamilton they are all more or less in the same level. I just think Alonso has all the characteristics, he is complete and he has the whole package. He is a very good driver.
And finally…tell us something crazy about yourself please…
I’m a big fan of fishing! When I’m back in Brazil, I like to enjoy at least one weekend of fishing with my friends. It’s different to any other thing and I really enjoy it, but that’s it, I think I was born inside motor racing. At least I had to try, I’ve tried and it seems to be working out!
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Felipe Nasr was talking to GPUpdate.net’s Mike Seymour
Twitter: @MikeSeymourF1
Volume 5 of GPUpdate’s One 2 Watch will be available on Thursday 14 July
Series
British F3
Formula 1
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Felipe Nasr
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| Felipe Nasr | |
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| 29 Jan | British F3 calendar cut to four events |
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| 14 Jul '11 | GPUpdate’s One 2 Watch: Nico Müller |
| 23 Jun '11 | GPUpdate’s One 2 Watch: Felipe Nasr |
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