THREE QUESTIONS TO NIKLAS 2020

You got acquainted with the Euroformula last year, and you will now be competing in the championship again. What have you learnt so far?
The Formula 3 car is technically much more sophisticated and offers a lot more options to work on the setup than a Formula 4 car. It has more power and produces a lot more downforce, which leads to much higher cornering speeds and significantly faster lap times. I have learnt to pay more attention to the behaviour of the car and to work more closely with the engineers on the setup. As drivers, we have to give very precise feedback. I quickly adjusted to the higher speeds and G-forces which require much faster reaction times in addition to an even higher level of physical and mental fitness.

There is a new car in the Euroformula this year. How big has the change been for you, and what are your objectives for the 2020 season?
I want to be in amongst the front-runners right from the start. I’ve already gained experience with the new car during test drives. I felt really good right from the start, and I have a very positive feeling about the season. The change wasn’t hard for me. The Dallara 320 is more responsive to changes than the 317 and it has a bit more downforce and braking efficiency. We are faster than last year, but from a pure driving perspective, it’s not so different. There’s a halo like in Formula 1 now, but I soon got used to it. The new car definitely looks great and is a lot of fun to drive!

You are continuing as a member of the ADAC Sports Foundation squad this year. What were your impressions of the new intake?
In February, we had a four-day introductory seminar with this year’s squad in Bad Endorf. We had to do various fitness and mental tests, and we went on a mountain hike together. In between, there were various courses dealing with topics such as nutrition or marketing. It was really cool getting to know the new intake, including those from the other motorsport disciplines, and to see some of the ‘old’ familiar faces again. There was a great spirit within the team, and we also learned a lot from the exchange of experiences. I’m very happy that I can be part of the squad again this year and that the foundation continues to support me in my development.