Carlos Sainz Jr shared his maiden drive experience with Ferrari at Fiorano test track. He considered it a day he “will never forget” despite driving a 2018-spec car.
The 26-year-old will become third Spanish Formula 1 race driver for Scuderia. Maruis Alfonso de Portago and Fernando Alonso had served under the same banner. He will kicks off his journey with Ferrari at the end of March 2021 in Bahrain.
Chalres Leclerc, Ferrari’s lead driver, and Sainz father witness his first drive from pits. Later his team mate had to leave for assembly department to get the right fitting for seat.
Ferrari planned to get him to speed at earliest. This asked two-times podium finisher to start with an older car to enable him for 2021 car.
The pre-season testing is reduced to three days. It requires extra effort from Ferrari to get new driver used to their system. The old car drive is intended to help Sainz understand Ferrari, before moving him to his new car.
“A day I will never forget!” said Sainz, who ran 100 laps 2018-spec Ferrari SF71H at Fiorano. “This morning, the alarm went off at dawn because we had some very early meetings before going out on track.
“One of the most special moments for me today was when I arrived at the circuit and I saw the Ferrari with my number 55 on it. I was eager to jump in the car and that first installation lap was exciting.
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“Then we got down to work and I am very pleased with how the day unfolded. We were able to get through an extensive programme and I was able to familiarise myself with the whole set-up: the engineers and mechanics, the steering wheel, the procedures which are obviously a bit different to those on the car I drove last season.
“It was very nice to have my father there at such an important moment in my career. And I’d like to thank Mattia, Laurent and everyone at Ferrari for such a warm welcome and such a positive first day in the 2018 car. I am very happy and could not have wished for a better start.”
