Red Bull Junior driver, Sebastien Buemi got his first 'proper' run in a
Formula 1 car at
Jerez on Tuesday, as testing resumed following Sunday's European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
Buemi, who has tested before for Red Bull Racing - but only in various straight-line runs, completed 78 laps in total at the Spanish track, as the Milton-Keynes-based outfit looks to get him the necessary experience to qualify for a Formula 1 super licence.
Red Bull Racing currently need a reserve driver, as Michael Ammermuller is struggling with a wrist injury and Robert Doornbos is otherwise committed in the Champ Car World Series.
Buemi began by going through the usual procedure of getting comfortable in the cockpit and then switched to aero testing and set-up work, ending the day at the bottom of the times, on a 1 minute 22.565 seconds, less than three hundredths off
Renault tester,
Nelson Piquet Jr.
“I have driven the
F1 car before, but only in a straight line, so this was the first time I have experienced corners as well,” said the Euro F3 driver and GP2 stand-in.
“The power out of the turns feels good but the most impressive elements of the package are the way the car goes through the quick corners, which is so much better than anything else I've experienced.
“I also enjoyed the speed with which the car can change direction and the power of the brakes.
“Towards the end of the day, my neck was beginning to get a bit sore, which I guess is normal, but I'm sure it will be fine by Thursday when I hope to have another run in the car.”
