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Sauber Formula 1 team caused a surprise in November with the announcement that Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr will race for them in 2015, stepping up from his role as test and reserve driver at Williams.
Nasr was born August 21, 1992 in Brasilia and started to race karts when he was just seven years old.
He was the 2009 Formula BMW European champion and the 2011 British Formula 3 champion.
This year he was the official test driver for Williams F1 Team and he took 3rd place in the GP2 series with Carlin.
Nasr comes from a family with a strong racing background. Was he destined to become a race car driver?
“No, absolutely not! I liked watching - but I did not get hooked until I was driving a go-kart myself when I was seven years old,” Nasr told Formula1.com.
“That was the moment that I thought: ‘racing - that's also for me'. Before I was dreaming about football, about being a policeman or a fireman - in that range. Driving a go-kart opened my eyes! (laughs) And then the fact that my family was involved in racing was the big plus.”
Nasr said his experience with Williams this year was just fantastic.
“I have to say I've learned a lot inside Williams. I am very thankful for this opportunity. I drove a F1 car for the first time with them; I have been able to work with the engineers and mechanics - and of course with the other drivers. I have also done a lot of work in the simulator,” Nasr explained.
“Of course I wanted to stay here [Williams] - but they have their commitment with Felipe (Massa) and Valtteri (Bottas) so I had to move on. I could not lose the momentum - I had to make the next step,” Nasr explained.
GP2 series' champion, Jolyon Palmer, recently said he was very disappointed to see that money was more important than talent to graduate to F1.
“It's gutting really, because people who I've beaten are on the grid and there's nothing I can do about it,” Palmer explained last week
Nasr enjoys a fantastic support from Banco do Brazil. How crucial was that backing to get the regular driver with Sauber?
“I have to say they've been supporting me for quite some time and it seemed logical to get into F1 together. It is a great opportunity for them to showcase the bank and get international recognition. Yes, it is important to have backers. Nowadays it is not only about talent - sure you need to have talent, but you also have to have support. And only if the two come together does it has the potential to bloom,” Nasr concluded, diplomatically.
Nasr was born August 21, 1992 in Brasilia and started to race karts when he was just seven years old.
He was the 2009 Formula BMW European champion and the 2011 British Formula 3 champion.
This year he was the official test driver for Williams F1 Team and he took 3rd place in the GP2 series with Carlin.
Nasr comes from a family with a strong racing background. Was he destined to become a race car driver?
“No, absolutely not! I liked watching - but I did not get hooked until I was driving a go-kart myself when I was seven years old,” Nasr told Formula1.com.
“That was the moment that I thought: ‘racing - that's also for me'. Before I was dreaming about football, about being a policeman or a fireman - in that range. Driving a go-kart opened my eyes! (laughs) And then the fact that my family was involved in racing was the big plus.”
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| Felipe Nasr aboard the Williams FW36-Mercedes at Interlagos, Brazil. (Photo: WRi2) |
Nasr said his experience with Williams this year was just fantastic.
“I have to say I've learned a lot inside Williams. I am very thankful for this opportunity. I drove a F1 car for the first time with them; I have been able to work with the engineers and mechanics - and of course with the other drivers. I have also done a lot of work in the simulator,” Nasr explained.
“Of course I wanted to stay here [Williams] - but they have their commitment with Felipe (Massa) and Valtteri (Bottas) so I had to move on. I could not lose the momentum - I had to make the next step,” Nasr explained.
GP2 series' champion, Jolyon Palmer, recently said he was very disappointed to see that money was more important than talent to graduate to F1.
“It's gutting really, because people who I've beaten are on the grid and there's nothing I can do about it,” Palmer explained last week
Nasr enjoys a fantastic support from Banco do Brazil. How crucial was that backing to get the regular driver with Sauber?
“I have to say they've been supporting me for quite some time and it seemed logical to get into F1 together. It is a great opportunity for them to showcase the bank and get international recognition. Yes, it is important to have backers. Nowadays it is not only about talent - sure you need to have talent, but you also have to have support. And only if the two come together does it has the potential to bloom,” Nasr concluded, diplomatically.