The duo headed into the summer break on the highest note after securing a one-two finish in Qualifying and the Feature Race in Budapest, so things are going well for Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli and Roman Stanek.
The pair work well together according to Team Principal James Robinson, but just how well do they know one another? We put them both to the test…
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAMMATE?
Roman Stanek: “I can start. I would say Leo is a very nice person. Very friendly and very quick.
Leonardo Fornaroli: “So, Roman is really nice, fun person as well. Nice to have him as a teammate and very determined in terms of what he wants to achieve.”
WHAT IS YOUR TEAMMATE’S BEST QUALITY?
Fornaroli: “Determination. When he wants to achieve a good result.”
Stanek: “I think he’s the same.”
Fornaroli: “Yeah but you’re more like, especially at home – every time I call you, you’re on the bike.”
Stanek: “For Leo though I have the same thoughts, he knows why he’s here and he’s set on achieving his goals.”
IF YOUR TEAMMATE WASN’T A RACING DRIVER, WHAT WOULD THEY DO AS A JOB?
Fornaroli: “That’s a good question for me… He would be a cyclist. One hundred percent.”
Stanek: “For Leo it’s hard… I think he would be –
Fornaroli: “I don’t know either.”
Stanek: “I think he would study, go to university and stuff and then end up being an engineer.”
Fornaroli: “Me?! An engineer?”
Stanek: “Not a race engineer, a different area.”
WHAT IS YOUR TEAMMATE’S MOST ANNOYING HABIT?
Stanek: “He’s late everywhere! Late and it’s very hard to convince him to do something. If we’re going out for dinner and he’s already got somewhere in mind, he’s not too sure, maybe this place isn’t good.”
Fornaroli: “For Roman… I’d say similar because if he wants to go to one place, it’s very difficult to change his mind. You cannot change his mind. Otherwise, I can’t think of one.”
WHO’S THE FUNNIEST?
Fornaroli: “Roman probably.”
Stanek: “I think so, yeah.”
Fornaroli: “Because I’m quite a private person.”
Stanek: “Me, not so much. Maybe too much!”
WHO HAS DONE THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING SINCE YOU’VE BEEN TEAMMATES?
Stanek: “Him! Yesterday I found out his shoes in his racing bag, and they were mouldy.”
Fornaroli: “Yeah but I’m not using those ones! I have new ones. We’ve done a lot as teammates together that I don’t remember one. When he was in F2 and I was in F3, we were out for dinner and he was trying to open something, used too much power and sent it everywhere all over the floor. It was quiet then you had this big ‘BAM’ and everyone went silent, mess on the floor, everyone’s looking.”
IF YOU HAD TO COOK A MEAL FOR THE OTHER, WHAT WOULD YOU COOK?
Stanek: “Chicken and rice.”
Fornaroli: “Pasta pesto.”
Stanek: “It’s my favourite. Al Dente.”
Fornaroli: “Spaghetti?”
Stanek: “No, Fusilli.”
WHO’S THE BETTER LOOKING?
Fornaroli: “Not me. Roman has the blue eyes. So him, only slightly more.”
WHO KNOWS THE MOST ABOUT CARS?
Stanek: “Leo I think.”
Fornaroli: “Yeah?”
Stanek: “I don’t know. I’m into cars, so maybe more technical side of things. But Leo, if you pointed to a car and asked him what specific version it is, he’d know.”
WHO’S ON THEIR PHONE THE MOST AND WHO TAKES THE LONGEST TO REPLY?
Simultaneously
Stanek: “Leo!”
Fornaroli: “Me!”
Fornaroli: “When I have nothing to do: Tik Tok, YouTube, Instagram… I have to reduce the time. I’ve improved but maybe some more.”
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THING YOU’VE LEARNED FROM EACH OTHER SO FAR?
Fornaroli: “The pitstops. This is already a super important thing so that and maybe some driving stuff.”
Stanek: “Same. He has some aspects of driving that are really positive.”
Fornaroli: “Yeah exactly, we learn from each other.”
Stanek: “Maybe I’m faster in one corner but he’s faster in the other, so it changes all the time, we just try to maximise all the time.”
Fornaroli: “And start procedure!”
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’VE WANTED TO TELL THE OTHER BUT HAVEN’T YET?
Fornaroli: “I’ve already said everything.”
Stanek: “We’re very open, so we say everything to each other.”
WHO’S IN THE GYM THE MOST AND WHO’S ON THE SIM THE MOST?
Fornaroli: “Roman gym, sim I don’t know.”
Stanek: “I think Leo.”
Fornaroli: “I do sim, but just for fun. I should take it more seriously.”
Stanek: “I have a new sim now. I got it a month ago and I’ve been doing a lot at home.”
Fornaroli: “I’m trying to rebuild mine a bit. When it’s ready, I’ll take it a bit more seriously.”