Conor Daly: An American in Search of F1

Conor, first of all, how have you been since your accident in Monaco?

« Well, it’s going okay. It was really unfortunate because Monaco affected Valencia and these two weekends we didn’t score any points. It killed my hopes in the championship but since then we haven’t finished outside the top 10 and we’ve made podiums, but we can’t go back to those two weekends. »

And physically, how are you? Have you fully recovered?

« Yes, in fact, I wasn’t even injured after the accident. So everything is fine. »

You won your first GP3 race this year, you’re 5th in the championship, what are your goals for this final meeting?

It’s really very tight, and even for me, if I manage to score big points this weekend, I could still finish second in the championship. So the goal is to finish in the top 3, but it will be complicated. We’ll need a bit of luck, we’ll see what happens, but I know the car is fast, the team is doing a great job, so we should have a good chance.

Have you achieved the goals set at the beginning of the year?

« No, I really wanted to try to fight for the championship, but this is motor racing, not everything always goes as planned. We had two weekends that went really badly and that didn’t help us. But apart from that, when we had problems to solve and rivals on the track, everything went well. We secured a lot of good positions, podiums, but I would have liked to do a little better. But you know, it’s only my 13th or 14th race weekend in Europe, so I still have a lot to learn, but we will keep moving forward. »

Monza is the last event of the GP3 season. Do you already know what you will be doing next year?

« No, not yet. Our goal is to move up to something like GP2 or the World Series, but we’ll see what happens in the coming months. Hopefully, we can do some testing in GP2 or the World Series during the winter. We’ll see how it goes and what comes of it. »

You are already connected to a Formula 1 team, Sahara Force India, and you have already conducted two aerodynamic straight-line tests, what has that brought you?

« It’s good, it’s always nice to be able to drive a Formula 1 car, we will see what happens. I don’t want to do the young driver tests, but it was a good opportunity. I’m really grateful to them, I know a few people in the team. Hopefully, we can continue to build a relationship. I’ve been to their simulator several times, because before putting you in the car, they put you in the simulator. It’s always good to spend time in a Formula 1 simulator. »

You are the son of a former Formula 1 driver, Derek Daly, who took part in 64 Grand Prix races, do you want to do better? Beat him?

« Yes, exactly. That would be really great. Formula 1 needs an American driver and it is aware of it, but it has been very complicated for us in the past, and it still is because it’s a completely different world from the one we were raised in. However, I think we are getting closer. If we can win races and regularly finish on the podium in GP3, which is one of the most competitive junior championships, that’s not too bad. We’re going to continue on our path, and the goal is to be in Formula 1, and it would be fantastic to have a great career. »

When do you think that’s possible?

I don’t know. I don’t want to arrive too quickly and not be ready. Achieving it in two or three years would be good, I could have good experience in the World Series or GP2, or even on a few Fridays, we’ll see what happens. For now, we have to keep working, make sure to win races.

Do you think it’s harder for an American to make it to Formula 1, particularly with sponsors?

« Yes, I think so. It’s difficult because, in the United States, people don’t appreciate Formula 1 as much as they do here (in Europe). There are people in the United States who know how complicated it is to reach Formula 1 and they appreciate the sport, but less than here. So yes, it’s more difficult, not just at the sponsor level but also in terms of culture. To race here, you really have to be completely dedicated. I live in England all summer, since March, because that’s where you need to be. You have to be in Europe because you can’t keep going back and forth to the United States, so it’s a dedication that is required, which is difficult, I admit. But if you really want to do it, you have to make that sacrifice. We’ll see what happens, but I’m going to continue doing it. »

Do you think that with the media exposure of the return of the United States Grand Prix in Austin this year and possibly a Grand Prix of the Americas in New Jersey next year, it can help you get to Formula 1?

« Yes, I think so. I know a lot of people from the Circuit of the Americas (in Austin) and they know they need an American driver for the United States Grand Prix to endure over time. People need to come and support a driver, like in Barcelona where all the Spanish fans support Fernando Alonso and fill the stands. We need something similar in the United States to really have a great Grand Prix for a long period. Fans need to support someone, like in Nascar, or in any sport, the Olympic Games for example where you follow your country’s results. So yes, it would be nice to get into F1. »

Do you think you could be the first among American drivers, including Alexander Rossi, to achieve it?

« I think it’s between Rossi and me, there’s a race between us (smiles). But he has far more experience than I do, and I hope he makes it. If we could have two American drivers in Formula 1, it would be extraordinary, but we’ll see how it goes. »

From our correspondent in Monza