GP3 championship leader George Russell poured in the mileage as got his first taste of Formula 1 machinery during the first day of the final in-season test at the Hungaroring completing 119 laps.
The Mercedes junior driver was tasked with completing testing of some aerodynamic parts with a vibration correlation system, as well as evaluations on the brake systems, ending the day fourth fastest on a 1m19.231s.
“Today mostly consisted of longer runs with higher fuel loads” said the Briton. “We wanted to see the degradation of the tyres, and mainly trying to work for the race simulations.
“I was quite happy with my performance. For my first time in the car, completing 119 laps and not being far from Valtteri [Bottas] – I’m pretty pleased with that.”
The 19-year old was certainly taken aback at the sheer pace the W08 had to offer, having driven his GP3 car just a couple of days prior to the test he was surprised at where he could hustle the car at different places around the track despite having already completed simulator work back at Brackley.
“It’s every young driver’s dream to drive an F1 car,” Russell added.
“As soon as I got on track, I straightaway understood how much grip and downforce this car has got – it is amazing. 48 hours ago I was driving a GP3 car around the same track, but today was totally different. Luckily for me I had done lots of simulator work with Mercedes, so I knew what to expect.
“The biggest difference is the power steering in the F1 car, and I could feel that as soon as I got out on track and the braking potential is enormous. I was expecting the speed on the straight and the downforce in the corners, as everyone does.
“But I don’t think anyone quite understands the braking power of this machine. In GP3 we enter into Turn 1 at about 260 or 270 km/h, braking at the 100 metre board. Today, I was going in at almost 300 km/h, braking 25 metres after what I would do in GP3.”
Russell will be returning to the Mercedes W08 for the second day of the Hungary test.
