Beganovic: ‘Smaller details making bigger differences’ as 2024 title race takes shape

It wasn’t the weekend PREMA Racing’s Dino Beganovic had hoped for after emerging as an early contender for Pole Position in Monte Carlo, but the Swede took a long-term view reflecting on his race weekend.

Unable to add to his Melbourne Feature Race win with a second visit to the podium, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy talent took his fourth and fifth-consecutive points scoring results, with P7 in the Sprint and P6 in the Feature.

While he was pleased to have taken points in both races, Beganovic admits that there wasn’t much more on offer after missing out on Friday in the fight for Pole.

“I mean not much happened during the race, it was a bit of a fastest lap contest out there, especially within the top six I would say. We were just trying to cool the tyres, then trying to push and do the same thing all over again in the beginning especially.

“Then the rest of the race was just saving tyres for some doors that might open in the end of the race. Unfortunately, we had to save the car in the end, so we couldn't really do anything about it. But we’ll take the points.

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“It's not the weekend we wanted or expected, and the speed was definitely there for much more. In Qualifying, getting that Red Flag just metres before the line was tough, and it just compromised the rest of the weekend.

“But I think taking these points with P6, P7 and fastest lap on Saturday will play a big part in the Championship at the end of the year. So, it's been a tough and disappointing weekend, but I think it's very important for the Championship.”

With four race weekends in the books and a very busy period in the calendar commencing with Round 5 in Barcelona, Beganovic says that every point earned from here on in will be crucial.

The PREMA driver says that the team are now looking to maximise whatever situation they find themselves in, as they did in Monaco despite having the pace for Pole and victory.

“The focus is just to do everything that we can in the situation we are in, for example, at Imola, we didn't really have the right feeling with the car, and we were just not fast enough, so we just took the points and moved forward.

“So, we will do it again from here. The feeling has been much better here in Monaco, but other things went wrong. We will take it, but we are always looking at the big picture, always scoring the points needed and we will also look to fight for podiums, Pole Positions and wins in the in the next few races. It will be very busy in June and July.”

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With eyes focused forward on Barcelona, the Ferrari Academy driver says he will be aiming to right the wrongs from Monte Carlo and put together a lap good enough to fight for the higher places on the grid.

From there, he believes the team have more than enough pace to fight for the bigger points on offer, but added he expects tough opposition from two teams in particular after their strong showings during in-season testing in April.

“Considering we had a good feeling here in Monaco, coming into June and July, it gives a bit of a boost definitely. Also, it's a track that everybody knows so it will be very tight in Qualifying. It will be very important to put the lap together and not make any mistakes to always be there.

“As I said everybody will be faster, no doubt. The margins will be much less, but I feel good. We were strong there looking at the test in Qualifying and race run, so I'm feeling good, let's see. Campos looked very strong there Trident also, but we're confident heading into the triple-header.”