PIASTRI LEARNT ABOUT F1 CAR POTENTIAL

Reigning FIA Formula 3 champion, Aussie Oscar Piastri, explained he learnt a lot about the potential of an F1 car in his recent test at Silverstone.

After testing a 2018 spec Renault F1 car in Bahrain late last year, Piastri got the chance to drive the machine at the legendary Silverstone Circuit in England last weekend.

Although the morning started off damp, the Alpine junior driver was able to complete a total of 86 laps (just over 500km), very close to what was planned by the team before the weather interrupted morning.

Piastri explained that he learnt a lot more about the capabilities of an F1 car, certain things that he could not discover at the Bahrain International Circuit.

“(I found out) just how much grip an F1 car,” Piastri told Auto Action. “Especially in high-speed corners.

“The nature of the Bahrain circuit is much more about the braking power of an F1 car, rather than the high-speed capability, whereas Silverstone it’s very much the opposite.

“Not a whole lot of braking and a lot of high-speed corners, so just learning to trust the car at high speed took me a few laps to get used to.

“Once you’re confident in the car and confident that it’s going to stick, not snap on you and fire you into the wall, it’s pretty awesome.”

The F2 driver completed several lengthy race runs, but was pleased to report that his neck coped well under the heavy g-forces at Silverstone.

“I did a couple of very long race stints at the end,” he recalled gleefully. “It was nice to put myself through that challenge both physically and mentally.

“To be able to still hang on, and my neck still be okay afterwards was also a positive sign. It was all getting the laps in and developing myself personally.”

Piastri described the sensation of driving the car at Silverstone as the best day behind the wheel of a racing car.

“That was by far the coolest day I’ve ever had, probably in life, let alone in a race car,” Piastri said.

“Driving an F1 car at Silverstone, there’s not really many combinations where you’ll fully exploit the potential of an F1 car.

“We did a lot of laps which was good, I thought Bahrain was cool, but this definitely took it to a whole nother level.”

For more on Piastri’s F1 test, prospects and his current F2 season, purchase the next edition of Auto Action on sale June 3.

Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.