© Getty ImagesCheco On The Charge With First Bull RunTwo days of testing for Sergio at Silverstone with the RB15.
Designed to get our newest recruit up to speed with Team procedures, the two days at Silverstone got off to a slow start as heavy rain and cold conditions on Monday morning restricted Checo to the garage for long periods.
Dream come true.
However, in the afternoon, the Mexican racer was able to power his way around the circuit as he worked through a series of shorter runs focused on optimising seat fitting, pedal adjustment and familiarisation with operational procedures.
That work continued on day two, although this time Checo and the Team focused on longer runs and race weekend preparation, as we head towards pre-season testing in Bahrain in less than three weeks’ time.
“It’s been amazing,” said Sergio after his first track time with the Team. “To look at my name on the car is something very special. It’s definitely a dream come true.
“We’ve already done a lot of work in the simulator working on the controls and I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made in terms of feeling more comfortable in the car.”
But while the changes were significant, the biggest difference came in the feeling of the car on track.
I can see there is so much potential with this Team. "Everything about the car is different. It’s still an F1 car in the end but the seating position is different, the steering wheel, the brakes, the buttons, procedures, the engine and the power delivery, the torque, so many things are different. But I can see there is so much potential with this Team.”
Sergio’s first track outing with the Team marked a significant waypoint in the build-up to his debut on 28 March in Bahrain, as he transferred the knowledge built up in the virtual world to real-world driving.
“We’ve done a lot of preparation – many days in the simulator, working on the controls, getting on top of everything. As I said, I’m pleased with how these days went because I was able to get used to all the procedures, to learn from them and to improve.”
And with less than two days of official testing available to drivers ahead of the season start, the Mexican is aware of the value of time in the car – even if it is one from 2019.
“Getting comfortable in the cockpit is important so that when we get to Bahrain, I’m able to just focus and get the performance right,” Checo said. “A day-and-a-half in the car is really nothing, so the more we can get done here, the better we will be prepared for the first test in Bahrain.”
The benefits extend beyond the cockpit, with Sergio adding that time spent in the garage with the Team is equally valuable.
We are all racers here and when we are in a racing environment everything gets more comfortable. “It’s very important to get these days – to get to know my boys, to get to know the engineers,” he confirmed. “It’s helps to have more fluid conversations as the way I explain the car is different to what they have been used to and vice versa. I recognise more faces now and I can have a laugh with the guys. We are all racers here and when we are in a racing environment everything gets more comfortable.”
With two days in an RB15 under his belt, Checo’s next step towards the 2021 season will be a big one – getting behind the wheel of this year's Red Bull Racing charger, the RB16B. That will come when he and Max take part in an official filming day with the new car.
After that, the Mexican’s next date will be at the sole pre-season test in Bahrain. And after that… well, then we’re racing!
