Countryman finding confidence after Montreal breakthrough

Countryman has taken clear steps forward, refining her race craft and adapting to new challenges – highlighted by a maiden podium in Montreal. She’s embraced racing on an international stage while maintaining a clear focus on her long-term development.

She shares her thoughts on recent performances, key learnings and how she’s working with her team, ART Grand Prix, to keep progressing in F1 Academy while also juggling a partial season in USF2000.

How would you sum up your performance across the first two F1 Academy events of the season?

“I think both Shanghai and Montreal were very different in terms of performance. In Shanghai, we were towards the back of the pack, whereas in Montreal we were battling further up, going on to secure second place.

“I think the biggest change was the mental approach I had to the weekend and the way in which the team and I were working together.

“The performance is looking good. I know what the team and I are capable of, so going into Silverstone, if we maximize on that, then we should have a good weekend there as well.”

Where do you feel like there's the most room for improvement right now?

“I think things will build up as the season progresses. Personally, I think that my mindset could be a bit more consistent, as I was feeling more nervous in Shanghai, compared to Montreal. I was excited to be on track in Canada rather than overthinking or imagining every possible scenario.

“If I can have the same approach that I had going into Montreal and keep that consistent, then I think it will help through the rest of the season.”

Has anything surprised you over the first races compared to what you were expecting?

“I didn’t really have many expectations coming into the season, as the only thing I had to compare it to was the USF Pro Championship back in the US.

“The tracks are different styles in America, so I was quite surprised in Shanghai, where you could close up on the car ahead through the sectors and be close enough on the straights but maybe not have enough horsepower to get past them. That’s probably been the biggest shock.”

How are you and the team working together to refine performance between rounds?

“Ahead of every event, all the F1 Academy ART Grand Prix drivers will spend a day on the simulator with them.

“My engineer and I are working well together, especially now that we’ve worked together for a little bit. We’ve started to adapt and understand each other better, especially in our radio communication and when we’re running through data.

“I’ve also been doing some simulator sessions in the UK. They have an F1 Academy car model so it’s beneficial and the engineers there are really helpful. It makes me feel as prepared as possible getting in as much sim work as I can.”

What have you learned about yourself as a driver through the first races?

“I’ve learned that the way you approach something and how you think about it is very important. Having any negativity isn’t good, so I make sure that I can push that out, ensuring my thoughts are positive every time I get into the car.

“Having confidence in yourself and knowing how much your mind plays into situations is definitely something I’ve learned. I worked with a sports psychologist and I noticed some changes, however the big push I needed was seeing it in myself.”

You've also been taking part in USF2000 away from F1 Academy. Do you think doing a dual program is helping your development?

“Time in the seat is always going to help me, so even though USF2000 and F1 Academy are different, I’m able to get as much experience as I possibly can.

“I do notice the differences between the two, like the procedures. In USF2000, we don’t do standing starts, instead we do rolling starts, so I know that’s an area I need to work on as the only time I can do standing starts is when I’m with F1 Academy. It wouldn’t be worth doing them when I’m racing in the States because the clutch is different, so that wouldn’t be helpful.

“I do think that it’s good to have the opportunity to drive in the two series though, as it teaches adaptability.”

How is your USF2000 season going?

“It’s going well, I finished in the top ten at the Indianapolis Grand Prix Circuit. I’ve got good data references with my teammates, so that’s helpful when analyzing sessions. We’re focusing more on refining areas for development, especially in my driving, as I’m only doing a partial season with them.

“The team and I have been working well together, and we’re just looking to get some good results like the last event.”

With such a busy schedule, what’s your go-to thing to be able to reset between race weekends?

“I don’t really have a particular way of resetting once I’ve finished a race weekend. Since I’ve been home from Montreal, I haven’t really done anything to reset. I had to finish my final classes for the school year, so that’s taken up most of my time. I like doing art, so I’ve been painting a little bit, as well as seeing family.”

What's the primary focus heading into the next round?

“I’d like to have the same approach I had going into Montreal. I also knew in Montreal there was something I was missing, I felt like my pace was at 98 percent. I know there’s more in the car and more in myself, so I just need to find a way to extract that little bit extra.

“I’ve got experience around Silverstone after the mid-season test there, and the car felt good. We just need to extract that final bit – and hopefully that brings another strong result like Montreal.”