Reece Ushijima stated that he is looking for a spot in a team that will allow him to fight for the 2023 Formula 3 title.
The Formula 3 triple-header is underway with the Spa round already behind and Zandvoort and Monza around the corner. It is Ushijima’s first experience of racing on three consecutive weekends. The 19-year-old noted that it is important to have momentum from the very start.
“In terms of expectations for myself, I think it’s very important to get Spa well, to get a good result at Spa because I don’t have time to reset,” Ushijima said in an interview with ASN Motorsports ahead of the Belgium F3 round.
“You have to get a good result, a good result, and a good result. It’s not like if you have a bad result on the first one, you’ll be thinking about that and you go to Zandvoort not feeling good, it will just be a bad pendulum effect.
“I’ve gone a good rest in the summer break. I’ve also been able to reset with my training and from a mental perspective, I’ve been able to put myself in a good headspace going into the triple-header.
“I know it’s going to be very physically demanding. But this is what the F1 guys do all the time, and if I want to be there, this is what I have to do. If anything, I relish, I enjoy the pressure of being back-to-back-to-back.
“It’s the first time in my career that I’m doing something like that but it will be very fun and it’s a new experience to say at least. And the fact that we go to Zandvoort as well [Van Amersfoort Racing is based in the Netherlands]. I want to get a good result for the team and try to make the Dutch guys proud.”
Speaking of the results he wants to achieve in the final races of the season, Ushijima eyes more podium finishes and a race win.
“Obviously I want to be on the podium again. At the beginning of the season, my goals weren’t very big, they were short-term goals, like, ‘Okay, I need to learn this, I need to learn that’.
“And now that I feel like I understand a lot more, I have bigger goals, like, ‘Okay, I want to be on the podium, I want to win a race’. Obviously, before the end of the season, I want to be on the podium again both in the Sprint and the Feature [Races] and I want to try to win a race. Just to end the season on a high and go into next year with a bit more confidence.”
As the 2022 season draws to a close, the time comes for drivers to make up their plans for 2023. The Van Amersfoort driver confirmed that he is set to stay in Formula 3 next season and has been in talks with several teams.
“I’ve been in conversation with some teams. Obviously, it’s a bit difficult to say what’s happening just yet, but I think I’ll be fortunate enough to continue in F3 again. I don’t know where just yet.”
Ushijima added that he would like to be on a team that will give him the best opportunity to fight for the championship.
“Next year it would be my aim to win the championship and I think it’s important for me to be wherever I’m in the best position to try to do that.”
Reece Ushijima
“And I’ve been very fortunate enough to have Van Amersfoort Racing support me through this year. We’ll see where I head next year, but luckily, I think it’s heading towards me staying for one more year and we’ll see where it goes after that.”
