4th October 2009 Antonio Giovinazzi he was a simple boy from Martina Franca who would have turned 16 a month later. That day, in Suzuka, Jarno Trulli climbed to the second step of the podium of the Japanese GP, together with Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Almost 11 years later that young Apulian boy became the only Italian driver present in F1, Vettel and Hamilton have jointly won 10 of the 12 world titles assigned since then and that result of Trulli remains the last podium conquered by an Italian driver in the Circus. It is difficult to imagine that Giovinazzi is going to break that fast this year, but in Formula 1 one must never speak before the checkered flag.
Giovinazzi on Ferrari: “It wasn’t the right time”
Maybe also for this reason the talent of Alfa Romeo wanted to throw a bet to its team principal, Frederic Vasseur: “All hairdressers were closed, so it was perfect for me because I like long hair Giovinazzi joked during an interview with the podcast F1 Nation in reference to how he experienced the lockdown – I said I’ll cut them if I get on the podium this year. We made a kind of bet with Fred [Vasseur], sI’m sure he’s pushing to have my hair cut, but I love having it long, so I said that if I do the podium it’s good for me and the team and then I’ll cut my hair“.
Giovinazzi and the experience with Raikkonen
Last year the 26-year-old former test driver Ferrari had been the protagonist of a similar bet with his boss, however linked in that case to the achievement of his first world championship point: “Last year I had my hair cut at the Red Bull Ring when I got my first stitch – jokingly recalled the Italian – so I said that this year it would only happen in case of podium “. Bets aside, for Giovinazzi 2020 will be a crucial year, considering his contract expiring and the ‘pressure’ coming from F2 with the many FDA talents who dream of the Alfa Romeo seat.
