Oscar Piastre is racing the 2021 Formula 1 car at the Séctor de Catalunya this week as McLaren prepares for its world championship debut next year.
It is Piastri’s third time driving for the team since joining from Alpine where he was a reserve driver.
Alpine gave Piastre his first experience of modern F1 machinery at last year’s official post-season test day. Their junior driver Piastieri has stunned the team by signing to race at McLaren next year, having driven two years of F1 cars in private testing from 2020 until the middle of this year.
McLaren has now started the same program that Piastri had as an Alpine junior. The first two-day test was with Paul Ricard in early November in an unknown old car once it was agreed that Piastiri would start early from Alpine. He then drove the team car last week in the lone postseason day at Yas Marina.
Piastre, who took over from Daniel Ricciardo in the team’s line-up, began a two-day test in Barcelona yesterday, which involved running on slippery and wet tyres. More tests are expected in January and February next year.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seid said the team’s plan was to get Piastri “as much experience as possible” during his time out of competition.
“We have a clear plan for replacing what we want to achieve in the Oscars. [official] Before we hit the test, try with him in January and February [with the 2023 car],” he said.
Siddle said Piastri’s run in the elder McLaren was “a good opportunity for him to read the characteristics of our car” and “get used to how we interact and practice all our procedures on the sound he hears.” radio”
McLaren Racing chief executive Zac Brown said: “They were very impressed with how [Piastri] He dominated the drama of the summer.” The driver has signed with McLaren while Alpine believes they have him under contract. “He hasn’t raced in about a year, so we’ve got to shake off that race rust, which I’m sure he’ll do in no time.” At the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Piastre’s first impression was that he was a “very technical” driver.
McLaren chief racing director Andrea Stella, who oversaw Piastre’s test program for his first run with the 2022 car, said the team’s new signing “wants to use his references.” [from older cars]From references [new] Car, even references to what we learned with Daniel and more” as he built up his F1 experience before the first race.
We are adamant that he will have enough talent, process, intelligence to find his own way using these references.
Photo: McLaren via Twitter
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