Felix thinks pure pace, and not strategy, will be the main factor in the quest for Macau Grand Prix victory.
After winning yesterday’s Qualification Race, Felix will start Sunday’s all-deciding finale from pole position, making him prone to first-lap slipstreaming attacks and potential charges from rivals at safety car restarts.
Felix, however, says that while the strategic aspects will have an impact, victory is eventually likely to befall the one who simply sports the strongest pace around the tight confines of the Guia street circuit.
“Strategy is always a factor at Macau, and yes, the timing of safety car restarts and slipstreaming will be important, but at the end of the day that’s all out of your hands and I think pace will be the ultimate key,” Felix says.
“All the other things just happen, and it’s nothing you can really prepare for. That’s what makes Macau so special. Looking at the grid we have, and our main rivals, I think it’s the same for everyone at the front and whatever happens on the first lap there will be opportunities to fight back if you are quick enough.”
The 2014 Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix is set to start at 15.30 local time (GMT+08:00). Felix will share the front row of the grid with Mücke Motorsport team-mate Lucas Auer, with Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), reigning European Champion Esteban Ocon (SJM Theodore Racing by Prema) and Nick Cassidy (ThreeBond with T-Sport) rounding out the top five.
2014 Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix – full starting grid:
