Piastri with “heaps to be taught” after “clean” first day

By Thomas Miles

Australia’s latest System 1 driver Oscar Piastri believes he already has “heaps to be taught” after his first day behind the wheel of the MCL60.

Piastri loved his first laps of his rookie F1 season christening the eight time constructors world championship successful group’s new automobile with 52 laps within the opening morning of pre-season testing at Bahrain.

As soon as 19 of the 20 drivers accomplished laps all through the eight and a half hour day, the 21-year-old from Melbourne completed 18th place with a greatest time of a 1:34.888.

Regardless of being solely forward of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, little will be learn into lap occasions at this early stage of testing.

Extra importantly, Piastri immediately appeared at house within the MCL60, staying out of bother and impressing specialists early together with his driving type with the occasional lockup the one hiccup.

General the previous System Renault, System 3 and System 2 champion mirrored on his first official day as a System 1 driver in a optimistic vogue.

Piastri stated he loved a “clean” begin, however admitted there’s nonetheless “heaps to be taught” after his first of three periods behind the wheel at pre-season testing.

“My first morning of testing went fairly easily which is an efficient begin to the season,” he stated.

“We obtained by way of the programme we needed to, which was nice, with the main focus being on getting myself again in control and used to the brand new era of F1 automobiles.

“There may be nonetheless rather a lot to be taught and enhancements to make however I feel I’m getting there. It was good to get some laps on the board and every thing felt fairly comfortable.

“I’m wanting ahead to my subsequent few periods to maintain enhancing and studying extra in regards to the automobile.”

As Piastri specializing in gaining miles, his McLaren teammate Lando Norris targeted extra on additional tempo and ultimately recorded a strong P5 end.

Norris’ 1:33.462 being 0.625s off chief Max Verstappen would have happy the McLaren group after related brake points which plagued final yr’s testing returned 12 months later.

The Brit was solely in a position to log 40 laps in his #4 automobile, the equal lowest quantity by all drivers throughout the eight and a half hours of operating.

Nevertheless, Norris took rather a lot out of his first drive of the MCL60, feeling “comfy” within the scorching seat and choosing up areas to work on.

“It was good to be again on monitor and get a very good variety of laps beneath my belt and to get that first feeling from the automobile, so I’m proud of that,” he stated.

“It wasn’t fairly the smoothest of days with a number of little setbacks right here and there, however we obtained by way of loads of the plan and among the key take a look at gadgets, which we will be taught from over the following few days as effectively some adjustments we will already begin to implement.

“I’m feeling extra comfy within the automobile and have modified little issues right here and there to begin to optimise a number of issues.”

Regardless of some dramas, McLaren group principal Andrea Stella believed the primary on-track day of 2023 was a “productive” one.

“A productive day in Bahrain which went largely to plan,” Stella defined.

“Regardless of a number of very minor points, that are frequent at testing, we’ve obtained loads of info and have been in a position to full loads of take a look at gadgets.

“There have been some quick delays brought on by the group wanting to bolster the physique work in some locations to be able to stop a failure.

“These have been preventative measures, however we thought they have been helpful to make so we may run safely and reliably for the rest of the day.

“General, a optimistic day. We hope to proceed like this for day two and three so we’re prepared for the primary race of the season.”

System 1 testing continues tonight with Norris finishing driving duties within the morning session, which begins at 18.00 AEDT earlier than Piastri drives within the night from 23.00 AEDT.

For the primary time Australians can watch System 1 pre-season testing on Fox Sports activities/Kayo. Dwell timing will be discovered on the F1 web site.

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