"Quite an interesting format": Sirotkin - about fijital racing, a new car and the future of Russians in Formula 1

— What can you tell us about the new BR03 car, on which the first stage of the SMP Endurance was held?

- This is a sports prototype of Russian development. The characteristics of the car are very similar to the LMP3 class, but with one exception - it is not carbon fiber. On the one hand, this is a minus. On the other hand, it makes the car much cheaper and more accessible to a large number of people who will hopefully go in this series. The power of the car is about 450-460 hp The maximum speed on the highway in Sochi is about 250 km / h. Weight - about 1 ton. I think there will be Miсhelin. Therefore, if we compare with those models that are in Russia, even with a more expensive class, the car is more than competitive. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that the revision process has not yet been completed and is now in the most active phase. So, the potential of the car, its maximum in full we have not yet seen.

- Why did the accident occur during the race?

- Br03 currently behaves in a peculiar way when driving. I mean what the pilot feels and how. So far, this is a rather demanding car for a racer. And of course, if we plan to create a series where not only professionals, but also amateurs will ride, then in terms of settings we are required to make a more comfortable base so that it is easier for a less prepared person to drive the car. Perhaps, in part, you will have to sacrifice speed, but he will become a little more loyal to mistakes and shortcomings in aerobatics.

In Sochi, there was a breakdown of the rear left lever, because of which I immediately lost control during braking. Flew off the track. Thank goodness not much, but still poked the front wing. Broke it too. As a result, when the car was delivered to the box, we had no time to return to the race.

- Were you not injured?

- No, it's fine. The blow was minor. This happens sometimes, I don't see any catastrophe. And it's probably even partly good that as we test, we understand which nodes in the car become the weakest and what happens happens. It's a natural process.

- Is the lack of knowledge about the car the main problem?

- We only have two cars. Therefore, it is quite logical that the mileage, and with it the experience gained, we have less than if there were 20 of them and they all drove at the same time. The car needs to be studied, so it does not yet drive its monoseries, and for another year we will be engaged in its adjustments and improvements. This is just a continuation of my answer, why it is good when such sores come out here and now on tests. As we operate, we will identify all possible weaknesses and by the beginning of mass production we will be able to eliminate them.

- At the Games of the Future next year, athletes will take part in fijital races, when they need to prove themselves in the virtual, and then on the track. How promising do you think this sport is?

- Fijital racing is quite an interesting format. I think only a lazy person did not appreciate the quality of the picture that can be created at competitions. And this is also a great way to attract new viewers to our species. Since sim-racing still has its own audience, and professional motorsport and karting - its own, a little different.

It's great when you can put everything together, make a beautiful show out of it, a picture and show it to a large number of people. From this point of view, we support this kind of direction as much as possible. We plan to do more of them.

In general, I believe that motorsport in the modern world is no longer just the races themselves and the struggle of pilots on the track, but also how we can show it to the audience. It is important how many people will watch the competition. This, it seems to me, in our time can be the main factor of growth.

— Do you plan to take part in the Games of the Future?

- I am not sure that I will go to Kazan as a pilot. I will rather be at the event as an organizer and expert. It's great that this format has appeared at all. Competitions are held, discipline is developing. I even heard that one stage is planned to be held almost in China.

Do you follow Formula 1?

- Yes. Although, to be honest, due to the large amount of work in other projects, including the Russian Automobile Federation, there is not always time. I used to read all the news and try to keep abreast of any events. It's more superficial now. If we talk about the current season, it should be noted how happy everyone was for Fernando Alonso and in general for Aston Martin. Finally, it would seem, at the end of his career, he guessed with the team where to go. And it's a little sensation.

Of course, we see that Red Bull stands out a little, but still, the spread between the teams, in principle, is not so large. Yes, Red Bull is leading again, and this spoils the intrigue a little, but then everything is quite dense. Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin - there is a rotation: someone jumps forward, someone makes a mistake and falls off. The struggle of these teams can be interesting.

Then it is important who and how will develop the cars during the season. Red Bull in this aspect is again among the favorites. Therefore, (maybe it will sound bad) I hope that they will not go from the rest completely into space and we will be able to observe a more or less competitive struggle.

- What are the prospects abroad now for our pilots - Daniil Kvyat and Nikita Mazepin?

- That's a tough question. After all, everything depends not only on them. Of course, as a functionary in domestic motorsport, I would like our pilots to have the opportunity to go, and specialists could work without restrictions. To do everything more openly than it is now. Because sport, it seems to me, should always remain out of politics.

And the last thing I would like to do is harm the young guys who have spent years of their lives on motorsport and reached a certain level. It will be a shame and it is wrong if they are ready for the next step in the world race, but cannot do it. I want this situation to be resolved.

- Do such young drivers have a chance to prove themselves in Formula 1?

- If we are talking about our athletes, then we have talented guys, but they are now at a certain stage of their careers. By the time they become ready to compete in Formula 1, at least several years will have passed. And what will happen in the world by this time, what is the political situation, no one knows. It's hard to guess. In the current situation, they have the opportunity to continue to perform, albeit not as openly as we would like, in Formula 3, Formula 4 and even in Formula 2. That leaves the last step. And before him, we still have a certain number of years to either change the situation, or we find some solution.