Minì hails enjoyable Baku Practice despite less-than-ideal conditions on debut

Gabriele Minì was pleased with the work he and PREMA Racing did in the opening 45 minutes of running in Baku, as the debutant finished Free Practice sixth on the leaderboard.
The Italian, who is filling in for Oliver Bearman this weekend, put in an assured performance throughout, even though he and the other 21 drivers struggled for grip on a dirty track surface.
On top of that, rain began to fall to halfway through the session making his challenge of getting up to speed in a new car and around a new track even more difficult.
PRACTICE: Fittipaldi quickest in tricky opening Baku session

Despite that, Minì enjoyed his first few laps in an F2 car and was happy with how things went.
“It was pretty nice,” started Minì. “Getting to know both the car and the track in one session was not easy, we also had a lot of Red Flags and the rain coming so that was not ideal on top the new car and track, but still I think we did a pretty good job.
“It was all about getting the confidence up, but I really don’t mind the car, it’s quite nice to drive and I enjoyed it quite a lot. Of course, it’s quite tricky but it’s also quite nice.”
Expanding more on his adaptation to the car, Minì added: “To be honest I thought the high-speed corners were going to be a bit easier but straight from the beginning it was very tricky.
“So even though you can be fast, it is really on the edge of sliding and then losing the rear, which happened to me a few times in the session. I was pretty close to putting it in the wall straight away at Turn 18. It was not ideal but, in the end, I had to just live with it and get to use to it.”
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With the drivers expecting to meet a much different track in Qualifying to the one they were greeted by in Practice, the 19-year-old admits he will be going into the Pole Position shootout a bit blind, especially in terms of braking.
“Well, the thing is the track was very dirty and I think the improvement between FP and Quali is going to be massive,” continued Minì. “I still know that there are so many braking points I have not nailed because the first lap you take bit of margin, then you go closer, then you go closer, then there was rain and the session was done.
“So, even on the in-lap after the chequered flag I tried to push on some corners, and I improved even more. So, it will be very hard because all the drivers who have done many races are expecting a bit more of the track change.
“But maybe it will be so big that we can catch everybody by surprise, and it could be good for me. I don’t know how we will do in Quali, but I will try my best and then we will see at the end.”
When pushed on whether he had a goal in mind for Qualifying, the debutant was taking a more relaxed view on things, insisting on doing the best he can with the help of his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
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“Not really,” said Minì on if he had a goal for Qualifying. “The only thing I have in my mind is that it is good to learn. Having Kimi, who is a good driver, watching his data, having the opportunity to learn is even better.
“Every position that I gain that is from the bottom of the list is something gained. I don’t have an objective but for sure we will try to do well.”