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Giovinazzi will try to follow Raikkonen's F1 driving style in 2019

Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi is willing to try to follow Kimi Raikkonen's driving style this year because it would be a "mistake" for him to ignore his team-mate's experience.

Giovinazzi has earned a full-time F1 drive at the rebadged Sauber team alongside 2007 world champion Raikkonen, who lost his Ferrari seat to Charles Leclerc.

After sampling Alfa's C38 for the first time on day two of pre-season testing at Barcelona, Giovinazzi said he will try to drive like Raikkonen to help further the team's development.

"I think it will be a mistake to do it a different way from him," said Giovinazzi when asked by Autosport if their driving styles were similar or if he would go in his own direction.

"Now my target is to work from him, learn from him.

"The right thing for the team as well is to go in the same way, and also it's maybe better for myself to go in Kimi's way, and drive in Kimi's way.

"Just [to] make it a lot easier also for the team."

Giovinazzi told Autosport earlier this month that he felt "lucky" to be partnering Raikkonen, a veteran of 291 grand prix starts.

After two years of development work for Ferrari on the team's simulator and various on-track opportunities with the Maranello squad and Sauber, Giovinazzi said working for himself in pre-season testing made a good change.

"It's a different testing [experience] now," he said. "Finally I can work for me, for my car, and this is what I'm doing.

"I'm trying to take all the feedback, give it to the team and try to work a lot with the team and with Kimi as well to build a good car.

"I followed Kimi's day [on Monday], we can do a really good job together.

"Kimi has a lot more experience than me, so I just need to listen to him and give my feedback."

 
Giovinazzi echoed Raikkonen's complimentary comments about Alfa's car, describing it as "easy to drive".

After a "positive" first day of testing, the Italian said he would do everything possible to make the most of an opportunity he is relishing.

"I waited too long, two years, but finally today I was really happy," said Giovinazzi, who crashed out of the second of two substitute appearances for Sauber at the start of 2017.

"[It felt] like I woke up for Christmas.

"I just want to jump in on Thursday, learn as much as I can and improve the car and make sure in Melbourne everything works well.

"I know this will be my [first] full season, so I just need to do a lot of work.

"When Melbourne starts, everything will come really fast."

Zdroj: autosport.com