Alexander Rossi hopes an American team makes it in to Formula One
The young new comer, Alexander Rossi born on 25 September 1991 was asked what he has in mind for his future in an interview by ESPN. The American youngster is taking longer than they expected for him to the GP3 car. The 18 year old was expecting the GP3 car would seem slower after coming from the GP2 Asia. Rossi was on the pace in testing at Paul Richard immediately but now they lost a bit of it with development as they are trying to adapt the car to his driving style. The team finds it difficult to make improvements on the race weekend.
The American could not make a move from GP2 Asia to GP2 main series, as he was facing budgetary problems and it was just not possible for him. He is happy with his decision of moving to the GP3 and does not regret his decision. He believes that this is where they were supposed to be, this is where they need to win. The 18 year old has never raced against anyone in the GP3 field except his teammate Esteban [Gutierrez]. They raced against each other in 2007 and 2008 and had the BMW Sauber test together in 2009. Both of them know each other quite well and become a healthy competition for each other.
Besides that, Rossi raced with Daniel Morad in the Formula BMW. The team ART tried joining the Formula 1 next year but pulled out of the running. Alex said that it would have been great to see his team in every racing category between F3 and F1. The team promotes the drivers through a ladder system that means that every person in the team is promoted according to his performance. The American has settled very well in Europe and has no issues with anything, as he is in great relationships with all the drivers, teams and mechanics.
The 18 year old grew up watching Formula One rather than NASCAR and was really involved in CART in America and thinks that it’s a shame to see NASCAR and Indy Car split because it ruined open-wheel racing in the country. Because of that, Rossi was never interested in those forms of the sport, shifted his attention immediately to Formula One and never looked back from that since. Alex’s dad Pieter is his manager and also a landscape contractor. The young driver said that his dad is doing a fantastic job and enjoys his dad’s company.
The American has been a part of the Skip Barber National, Skip Barber Western Regional, and Formula TR 1600 Pro Series, Formula BMW Americas, Europe, World Final, International Formula Master, GP2 Asia Series, Formula Renault 3.5 series and now the GP3. He won the Skip Barber Western Regional, Formula BMW Americas and Formula BMW World Final. The 18 year old became a part of Formula One, when he signed with USF1 team as their test reserve driver and tested the BMW Sauber in 2009.
Rossi believes that Americans do have an advantage when it comes to generating sponsorship and it is a leverage American companies and American motor sport fans can use. The 18 year old added that it would be great to see an American in Formula One, as it is a rarity and that is what fans and sponsors are looking for.
Alex was devastated when the USF1 had to withdrew from the Formula One, as he was looking forward of being a part of the F1 world. It would be great to have an American team on the Formula One grid that will increase Rossi’s chances of getting in . The young American is excited about the Austin race that may take place next year but without an American team or driver, he does not expect there will be a big pull.
Things are looking good for the 18 year old, as he had a few conversations with Bernie Ecclestone and Tavo Hellmund about 2012. He needs to keep pushing and working hard in order to make it in to Formula One and believes that he has what it takes.
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