Tatuus iMagazine

6 The pandemic forced to postpone de debut of the next generation F4 cars. “The debut of the new cars should have happened in 2021. Some of the details are still being studied by the FIA but whatever path will be chosen, Tatuus is ready. A decision by the Federation itself, with the favourable opinion of all national authorities, led to the one‐year postponement. I think it was the right decision. In such a delicate time, requiring teams to buy new cars and equipment would have been a mistake. However, individual promoters will be left with the option of keeping the current model for a further season.” So the current generation of cars which were launched in 2014, will continue. "I dare to say that it has been an honourable career. The original homologation was supposed to last for six seasons but was extended and maybe another one‐year extension will come. It is a chassis that keeps providing satisfaction to us, as we built it, and to the drivers and those who field it. The acquisition costs are marginal in the definition of the budget, and now they are super amortized by the teams involved in Formula 4 from the start. The car remains really effective in preparing drivers for the higher categories. Those who leave F4 are immediately ready to make the jump, and there are drivers who land directly in the international F3 skipping the Formula Renault or Formula Regional step. This means that, if approached well, F4 is an ideal training in the ascent to Formula 1.” Here we get to another chapter. In 2021, Mick Schumacher will make his Formula 1 debut. After Lance stroll, he is the second driver to land an F1 drive after starting in F4. "This is because F4 has become the natural outlet for young people coming from karting and the best training towards the higher categories. This is what Formula Renault 2.0 previously used to be, also with a Tatuus chassis. F4 has taken on that role as such an important maiden step in the careers of promising talents.” A delicate question. Can we consider F4 as the most important project in Tatuus history? "It is actually a delicate question. And maybe, I'm not the most qualified person to answer. From my point of view, the longevity, fame and numbers of Formula Renault 2.0 is maybe still a half step away in terms of being the most representative project in the growth and history of Tatuus. That said, I hope F4 will be able to go beyond that thanks to the continuity provided by the new chassis." Let's make a reflection on British F3, which had an upgraded chassis with more aero downforce and safety and on USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 which are part of the IndyCar ladder. "On these fronts, we have actually been penalized by the pandemic, as we weren't able to provide the assistance we wanted. We had a greater need for "virtual" contact, but we also offered our support remotely. With MotorSport Vision, the head of British F3, and with Andersen Promotions for the American series, there have been evolutions, including technical ones, which will lead to important news for the next season. They will be announced later on.” Which kind of advantage is the synergy with Autotecnica providing, also considering your double leadership role? "The synergy intensifies day after day. While it is true that I cover a double role, Gianfranco De Bellis is still the soul of Tatuus. Together, we collaborate towards the growth of the entire group, which includes Breda Racing, our third pillar. Thanks to the relationship between the technical offices and departments, we started to achieve visible results like Formula Regional, the first car that saw light with this structure, and the new Formula 4. There are significant advantages in terms of the feasibility of future projects. For example, it's clear that race cars are headed towards electrification. I think that electric power won't replace combustion engines, and in some cases, there will be a coexistence, and we are already thinking about that aspect with Tatuus. While thinking to a hybrid powerplant, it's not possible not to think about the location of batteries. And this is only possible by sharing goals between who develops the chassis and engine. The creation of synergies was not easy to set up, but it is getting more and more implemented both on the Tatuus side and on the Autotecnica and Breda side. It's a group of companies aiming for the same goal."