135 laps, or around two and a half Abu Dhabi Grand Prix distances. That’s what Charles Leclerc achieved today, with his new team, as the SF71H bowed out of official duties. In fact, the end of the Pirelli test also marks the end of the 2018 season, even if the focus of these two days was very much on the future, evaluating next year’s tyres.
|Of course it was emotional,” commented the 21 year old Monegasque driver. “Because driving a Ferrari is special and because this was a day I had been waiting for, for so long without being sure if it would ever happen. I am pleased about that and with the work we did. We got through all our programme which centred on comparison testing between this and next year’s tyres. For me, it was important because I also got to know the team better, although some were no strangers to me given my time with the Ferrari Driver Academy. Over the next few weeks, I will work to be in the best possible shape and to learn from everyone in the team and my team-mate. I can’t wait for next season to start…” – the Monégasque racing driver said, as reported by the Maranello team’s official website earlier today.
By the end of the day, Charles’ best time was a 1’36”450, set on the Hypersoft tyres.
Charles Leclerc will make his next official Ferrari test appearance at the start of pre-season testing next February, taking place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Between now and then, Leclerc said he would be working to “just get ready as much as I can”, adding: “I can’t wait to be in the car in the first test and in the first race.
“It has been already a very long day with a lot of data to analyse, so first of all we have to analyse and understand all of this, and then for sure have a lot to learn, so it will be just to get up to speed as quickly as possible.”
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