It was a slow build across the Formula 2 qualifying session, according to Alex Dunne, who will line up second on the grid for the Feature Race around the Madring.
The Madring has faced a series of criticisms ahead of its debut on the calendar, with the layout and nature of the circuit described as a ‘car killer’ by James Vowles. In the F3 in-season test, 19 Red Flags raised warning signs for the other series soon to be racing in Spain.
F2 got a taste of that chaos in their qualifying session, with three Red Flags brought out and a rush to the line for drivers.
A disrupted practice session
Dunne spoke to the media about how difficult that adjustment was and the approach to the build-up, telling the media, including Motorsport Week, how the references from F3 aren’t effective due to the different speeds and subsequently reference points.
“Obviously some of us probably used F3 as a reference before we came here. You know, looking at onboards and stuff to try and see what we can learn, but corners that aren’t really corners for them become corners for us because we’re arriving at a much quicker speed.” He explained.
“It’s just about building up to it and, you know, finding the confidence. Turn 14 is a corner that on the sim, I thought was going to be easy and flat, and I only just about did it flat on my best lap, and that was on the final push of quality.
“It took me that long to kind of build up and get the confidence to do it. Overall it was always going to be difficult.”
With many Red Flags throughout the session, momentum was constantly stopped, leaving drivers more cautious when it resumed.
For drivers, Dunne explained this was different from many of the tracks they usually race at, which remain at 100% the entire session, where the Irishman believed he was under the limit.
“The red flags kind of reset, and you kind of have to go again, and I think at a lot of other tracks we’ve all driven it so many times that we’re all pushing at 100% and sometimes over, where I think today I was probably in most corners I was probably always a little bit under the limit just because you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Working on a win
Alex Dunne has had an incredibly consistent season, with five podiums and countless top five finishes. It’s been a big step up from the up-and-down struggles he faced last year.
However, despite the step up, Dunne hasn’t reached the top step yet this year, with victory eluding him. The Irishman said it’s been hard because what worked for him last year hasn’t worked the same way this season.
“It’s just one of those things.” He told Motorsport Week, “I think it just hasn’t really materialised for us in the races. The team and I are working as hard as we can to kind of try and turn it around, let’s say, and find more pace, but it’s just proving to be difficult at the moment.
“Unfortunately, what we had last year and what worked so well for us last year just isn’t working this year, and I think we’ve gone into a couple of weekends and kind of had to flip the setup of the car on its head to try and figure some things out.
“As a driver, I can probably get a little bit more out of it in different situations as well, but I think unfortunately it’s just one of those things.”
Making that final jump to claim his first win of the season has been playing on his mind ahead of Madrid. The Alpine junior said he’s discussed what he can do with the team.
“The team and I are constantly trying to work and figure out new things to try and get more out of it, and I think coming into this weekend we had a big conversation about what we can do to make it better, but it’s just one of those things.
Looking to the weekend ahead
However, despite the lack of momentum, Dunne didn’t want to dwell on the past; instead, focusing on the future.
“We can’t go back in time and change what has happened, so we’ll just focus on what’s in front of us and see if we can get the most out of it, but we’re in a good place to challenge for something on Sunday.”
With reduced track time, Dunne was asked about the track progression and how hard it is to get up to speed with so little running.
“I think tomorrow is a good opportunity to learn, but that’s also going to be hotter than what we have on Sunday. So yeah, it’s going to be a tricky one, but that makes it exciting.”
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