In this exclusive interview with PaddockNews24, Formula 1 Development Driver David Tonizza shares his path that led him to triumph in the F1 eSport championship in 2019 and allowed him to join the Ferrari Formula 1 team, working closely with the Scuderia’s drivers.
How did you become passionate about the world of Motorsport?
“My father passed on his passion for Motorsport to me from a young age. Along with my brother, I participated in some karting championships, but unfortunately, due to a lack of financial resources, we had to stop. I quickly realized it was a tough world.”
How did you get into the world of virtual Motorsport?
“As a kid, I spent a lot of time playing video games of all kinds, not just racing games. In 2017, I stumbled upon an online championship that I decided to participate in, but it was nothing serious. In the beginning, I even raced with a joystick, and only some time later did my father buy me my first steering wheel. It wasn’t the best, but it was more than adequate as a start.”
Staying on the topic of simulators: in your opinion, in an online championship, is it more about the simulator you have or the driver?
“If you had asked me a few years ago, I would have said the driver. Right now, I’m not sure if that answer still holds. Nowadays, many more kids have entered the world of online competitions, and the level has reached truly high peaks. I would say that a steering wheel that isn’t on par with the competition can be a significant disadvantage. It’s rare for someone to triumph even with a less performant simulator. Many start their eSport careers by purchasing setups that exceed a thousand euros. We’ve reached the limit.”
Tell us about your experience in the F1 eSport Series Pro: how did you get in?
“Initially, I did the qualifications from home, trying to set the best times. After qualifying, I gained access to the Pro Draft, where I was selected by Ferrari. In fact, one thing I’ve never told anyone before is that I also received an offer from Renault. I had to choose whether to race with the French team or fulfill my dream of wearing red. The choice is now well-known.”
How did the championship progress?
“The championship continued with the Pro Series. I didn’t have any objectives other than performing my best, trying to improve race by race. However, right from the start, our goal changed: after winning the two opening races in Bahrain and China, I began racing to win the championship.
I led the championship for the entire season until the second-to-last race when Rasmussen, who had trained very well on the last circuits, overtook me. In Brazil, I gave it my all and managed to clinch the title. All the pressure accumulated over the previous months released in the blink of an eye.”
Tell us about your experience within the Ferrari team.
“Those years were wonderful, but at the same time complicated since I was still in school. From Viterbo, I had to move to Maranello, where fortunately I found the same program I was taking in my hometown. In the mornings, I went to school, and as soon as I returned home, after eating in less than twenty minutes, I trained on the simulator until evening. In my free time, I studied and did homework.”
What was your relationship with school like?
“My relationship with school was never the best. I never cared much about graduating, and this, of course, often led to discussions with my parents. Many eSport drivers have even dropped out of school to dedicate themselves full-time to competitions.”
Let’s say it’s a kind of gamble… And what if you can’t make a name for yourself in eSport?
“Well, yes; but it’s a gamble that I think is worth taking. If you can’t achieve the desired performances, you’ll blame school for not allowing you to train fully, and on the other hand, you’ll have the regret of not completing your studies. There are always evening courses, even though I’ve never been interested in them.”
How did the pandemic affect the world of eSport competitions?
“The pandemic definitely had a positive impact. I would say it’s precisely because of it that we eSport drivers have been so close and had the opportunity to meet Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc in person, who were the F1 drivers at the time. It was also crucial for the spread of our championships to the public.
Even before, the eSport world was a growing sector, but with the health emergency, it literally exploded on TV and social media. I would have preferred a slower and more steady increase, as now, a few years later, it has returned to being a “niche” sport.”
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