Test Abu Dhabi – “I’d been waiting for this day for a long time”

Posted: 28.11.2018
Source: Ferrari

Charles Leclerc completes tyre test for Scuderia Ferrari: “A special feeling”

Yas Marina, 28 November –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 happen. I am pleased about that and with the work we did. Our entire programme was based 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…”

By the end of the day, Charles’ best time was a 1’36”450, set on the Hypersoft tyres.

 

Abu Dhabi Test – “No major surprises”

Posted: 27.11.2018
Source: Ferrari

Seb’s comments after testing new tyre specs for 2019 at Yas Marina

Yas Marina, November 27 – Sebastian’s racing year came to an end today as he completed 68 laps of the Abu Dhabi track, with a best time of 1min36.812, which  came courtesy of a fresh set of 2018-spec Hypersoft tyres.

“The purpose of this test is primarily to get a first feeling of the new tyres, with the impressions of the last weekend of racing still fresh in our minds,which gave us the possibility to compare. Unfortunately, today we lost some track time to repair work, but overall I think there were no major surprises as these tyres seem to work and to be fairly similar to the ones we used this season. Now we’ll see how the new regulations for 2019 affect the speed of all cars and how they work in combination with the tyres, also depending on the compound choices at the various tracks”.

Tomorrow, for the second and last day of tyre testing, Charles Leclerc will take over from Seb with a similar programme.

 

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