After having to wait one more day to get the SF71H , the car of the year 2018, out on track, due to not being able to use last season’s car, Robert Shwartzman finally began testing on Wednesday and was in charge of closing the week of testing.
The Russian pilot had to wait until 10 am on Friday to shoot on the asphalt due to the presence of fog, but once he did, he made the most of the day to complete 121 laps (equivalent to 361 kilometers) in a Circuit that started out wet, but by noon it was completely dry.
The Maranello team made different changes to the set-up of the car throughout the day that Shwartzman used to continue to better understand the behavior of the car.
“These last few days I have done my first laps as a Ferrari test driver and I cannot deny that I am very proud of my role,” acknowledged the 22-year-old. “It’s always nice to drive a Formula 1 car and I hope there will be more opportunities during the year.”
“My approach to the season is going to be completely different this year, as I’m not going to participate in any championships,” Shwartzman said. “I am completely available to the team, which I want to be very immersed with, as there is so much to learn.”
“My goal is to get to race in Formula 1, and I think the role of test driver is the best way to achieve it. When the time comes, I want to be ready,” he added.
Ferrari completed 272 laps of the Fiorano track over its three days of testing, of which 165 came courtesy of Shwartzman, while Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who rode on Thursday, totaled 59 and 48 laps respectively.
This week’s was the only private test that Ferrari will do, which plans to present its car for 2022 on February 17 at 2:00 p.m. in Spanish peninsular time, shortly before premiering it in the first preseason tests on February 23. at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
