Christian Mansell will debut in the Formula 2 championship this weekend in Azerbaijan for Trident alongside Richard Verschoor.
The Australian driver is replacing Roman Stanek in the Italian team with three rounds to go after an impressive FIA F3 campaign.
Mansell finished fifth in the championship after taking five podiums over the year for ART and has been rewarded with an opportunity to step up to Formula 2.
The 19-year-old hopes to return to the series for a full campaign next season and wants to understand how to maximise the car, particularly the fine details.
When speaking to Speedcafe, he said he hopes to figure out how to drive the car at its maximum while making the smaller aspects automatic.
Christian Mansell wants the fine details to be ‘second nature’ after his Formula 2 debut
The FIA F2 car is notoriously difficult to grasp as the 18-inch Pirelli tyres are different compared to others on the path to Formula 1.
Formula 2’s car is also much more powerful than its FIA F3 counterpart and with no power steering, it makes the series a much more physically demanding prospect.
Mansell is aware that he can now drive a car quickly in race conditions, but he would need to understand a lot of procedures if he were to drive an F1 car, which he wants to prepare for in case the opportunity comes up.
He said: “All the little stuff, I just want it to be second nature. Once you can do that, the driving becomes a million times easier.
“I’m at the stage in my career where I can drive a car fast, but it’s about… if I was to jump in a Formula 1 car, I need to know every single procedure; what the steering wheel does, how the car reacts if I hold the brake into the corner, or if I go really aggressive on the throttle.”
The Baku City Circuit will be a challenge for Christian Mansell in F2
Mansell will be making his Formula 2 debut at the Baku City Circuit which is one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar.
The track requires a compromise with the setup, with the long pit straight balanced by the twisty middle sector, where it is almost impossible to pass.
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The infamous Turn 8 is just 7.6 metres wide and has caused a multitude of incidents since the track made its debut in 2016.
Due to the format, Mansell will only have a single practice session to learn the circuit before being thrown straight into qualifying.
Mansell will also be joined by fellow FIA Formula 3 graduate Luke Browning, who is likewise stepping up to Formula 2 with ART in Baku.