Interview
Cordeel confident he’s ‘finally’ gotten to grips with tyre degradation
Getting used to tyre degradation has been a major adjustment for Amaury Cordeel since stepping up to Formula 3, with the Campos driver not accustomed to having only a single lap to get the job done in Qualifying, but the Belgian feels he’s “finally” gotten to grips with it at Zandvoort.
After briefly running on provisional pole during the early stages, Cordeel ended Qualifying in 12th and on reverse grid pole for Race 1 – his best result at this level so far.
The Campos driver got his second set out of the way early, opting to avoid the traffic and run in the gap, before returning to the pits to watch a Red Flag interrupt the final few minutes.
“I was already in the box (when Hunter Yeany span and brought out a brief red flag), as I had done my second set of runs,” Cordeel said. “When Qualifying started again, it was an exciting final few moments to see where I would finish. I was P10 after my lap and two people bettered me at the end, which puts me on pole for Race 1.
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“It was a good session. We’ve had some bad luck in the past, but finally, it has come together. I did a great lap on my first set, I then made a little mistake on the second set, but it was still enough for P12. Finally, a good result for me and the team.
“The tyres have been a big change for me because you have to get it done in one lap in Qualifying. Whereas last year, I could drive 12 laps in a row and improve on the last lap, so it has been difficult to adjust, but finally, we’ve managed it.”
Cordeel is already familiar with Zandvoort, taking fifth at the Dutch circuit in Formula Renault Eurocup last season, and he hopes to use that experience to his advantage when starting from the front in Race 1.
“I raced here with Formula Renault last year and that went pretty well, which gives me some motivation for tomorrow,” said Cordeel. “It is not a track where you can overtake easily. The only real place is at Turn 1.
“I’ll just keep my head cool and focus on the race - hopefully I can finish at the front.”