Rodolfo Gonzalez discovers Force India, Magny-Cours and the rain

For his debut aboard the Force India VJM05, Rodolfo Gonzalez came close to preventing Jules Bianchi from setting the fastest time of the day during the Young Driver Test at Magny-Cours. Indeed, when the Indian team decided to end their day shortly before 4 p.m., Rodolfo Gonzalez was at the top of the timesheet with 79 laps completed. The 1:16.985 time set by the Ferrari shortly after 5:30 p.m. did not take the smile off the face of the Caracas native: « I am relatively happy with how it went. Conditions were difficult this morning, I had never driven on this track before, nor with the car. But the team seems happy that I quickly got up to speed. In the end, the times were there, there was certainly more to be found, but for that, you simply need more time to run. In one day, you try to do what you can; it’s not like Bianchi who has been running here for 3 days. So, I don’t think we were too bad. »

The task of the Venezuelan was not made any easier by the rain that appeared on the Nevers circuit during the morning, an unprecedented situation for Rodolfo Gonzalez: « It’s the first time I’m driving in the rain with a Formula One. For a first time with Force India and on a track I didn’t know, with the rain added to that, it was difficult. We’re always on the edge, with oversteering, so I found it quite difficult. But I gained confidence in the car, enough to be able to push. However, our whole program was more or less spoiled by the rain this morning. We were supposed to do aero tests but in the end, we couldn’t do many, so we did some long runs, start tests, and pit stop simulations to find our rhythm. And then we did some runs with new tires. That’s all we could do. » As for whether this test day will have a follow-up, Rodolfo Gonzalez hopes to have « an opportunity to seize with both hands. »

But at Magny-Cours, the Force India driver was able to benefit from the support of his family, especially his little niece with whom he eagerly played once the briefing was over: « I don’t get to see them much during the year. Most of the time, I’m traveling, racing in GP2, so it’s really nice to have family around. I probably see them once or twice a year, when I go back to Venezuela, and every time I see my little niece, she’s getting bigger. It’s pretty tough for me to stay away from them, I need to be surrounded by my family. Even if they don’t see me much or I don’t have the chance to talk to them, it’s nice to see they’re there and to have their support. »

From our correspondent in Magny-Cours.