Interview
Newly-promoted F2 driver Koolen has a goal: 'Formula 1 is my dream'
- Ludo van Denderen
Niels Koolen failed to make a lasting impression in his first Formula 2 weekend. Barely a week after AIX Racing appointed the Dutchman (23) to replace Taylor Barnard (who has moved to Formula E), he made his debut in Monza with two last-place finishes. But Koolen will not let that put him off. In Baku, in just under two weeks' time, he will get a second chance to convince the German team to keep him on after that.
For most motorsport fans, the name Niels Koolen is not that familiar. Strange by no means, as last year he was active in Indy NXT and the European Le Mans series. Classes that are hardly, if at all, televised, unlike Formula 2. In Italy, he was allowed to make his debut in this step-up class to Formula 1. "It was very last minute," Koolen said in a conversation with GPblog.
"We had been looking for a seat for a while, to learn what it's like in the paddock. My manager (the agency set up by Fernando Alonso) has been searching. Well we had a seat a week before the race. So we hardly had a chance to prepare. Then you start fitting the seat, going through the manuals, in the simulator. It has been very busy."
Koolen needs to get used to Formula 2
During the feature race last Sunday, it was clear that Koolen still had a lot of getting used to the level. After a safety car procedure, for example, he dropped from fifth to last place within one lap. "The F2 is a completely different car than I actually expected, so it still takes some getting used to. So every lap I can do is very important. Indy NTX is a car with a lot of combined load, LMP2 is pure endurance. So very different."
For now, Koolen has a contract for two races with AIX. Whether it will stay at that? "More is always welcome," the driver laughed. "If that's possible, that's great. It depends entirely on whether they keep a seat open for me or not. The season in Indy NXT is over. I won't go back there next year, we are looking at a seat in F2. If that works out," he said.
It probably helps that his father Kees is quite wealthy. His net worth is estimated at 340 million euros, after he was involved in the sale of Booking.com. Koolen junior, who started karting at 14, is at least happy with the financial help: "I am very grateful to my parents. My father thinks it's very nice that I can do this. My dream is F1. It will be very difficult. We still have a lot to learn. I still have to learn the procedures, tyre management, experience in some areas. You always have to keep making steps. But that's my dream."
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton