PIASTRI REFLECTS ON LATEST F1 TEST

Yesterday FIA Formula 2 Championship leader Oscar Piastri had his third Formula 1 test, this time at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy.

The high speed F1 circuit posed as another different challenge compared to the wide open Bahrain International Circuit, and the fast and flowing Silverstone circuit where he had tested previously.

Over the course of the day Piastri completed just shy of 500km or 140 trouble free laps.

The test was revealed by Piastri in his latest column on sale in the current Auto Action magazine now.

The Alpine Academy driver explained that he loved the thrill of driving an F1 car around the high-speed circuit with the walls so close.

“It was awesome,” Piastri said. “To get back in the RSA (Renault Sport Academy) team here at Monza.

“It was another different experience compared to Silverstone, (I) definitely felt the sensation of speed, which was really, really cool.

“I think this is probably the day at all in a race car where I’ve really felt that sensation of speed.

“It’s actually not the fastest I’ve been, I think Baku in F2, we were a little bit quicker in the slipstream.

“But when it’s just you, by yourself, and the walls are quite close here, you don’t have to worry about anything else, it really did come quite fast.”

Oscar Piastri reflects on latest F1 test – Image: Supplied

Piastri explained that driving the F1 car around the ‘Temple of Speed’ really was a lot more daunting than cars he had previously driven at the venue, but felt it was a very productive day.

“Given (that) the track is so historic, very old school, the fact that the walls are still quite close, and there’s not really much runoff, it was a little bit more daunting in an F1 car compared to previous cars I’ve raced here,” Piastri said.

“You get to top speed so quickly, you’re always going at a really high speed, you’re not slowly building up.

“So, it’s probably the first time I’ve actually noticed how quick the car is in a straight line.

“I loved every second of it and really learnt a lot, so, very happy.”

The long pit straight at Monza runs into the very tight Variante Turn 1 and 2 chicane which requires one of the biggest braking areas in the Formula 1 season.

Piastri felt that the braking of an F1 car is the most notable difference to his Prema Racing F2 machine.

“I think the most noticeable thing is the braking,” he said. “You’ve just got a lot more stopping power than F2.

“They’re both on carbon brakes, but you can brake at basically the same point, if not later in an f1 car, however carrying much more speed on the straights.

“I think that partly comes from the downforce as well, so naturally the corner speeds are also a lot higher, especially in the high-speed corners.

“Here, the Ascari Chicane, you’ve really got to trust the grip and the downforce and it’s an awesome feeling, especially when you’re on a quali run on a low fuel with soft tyres. It’s just awesome!

There is a lengthy gap before the next F2 round which takes place at the very same track, Monza from September 10-12.

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