Alfonso Celis Jr was naturally ecstatic after completing his first laps in a Formula 1 car during the Pirelli Tyre Test at the Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday.
The Mexican driver, who has recently been confirmed to be a Sahara Force India development driver in 2016, completed 65 laps of the Abu Dhabi circuit, finishing fourteenth quickest, but was pleased to get some miles in the car.
“My first day in a Formula One car certainly lived up to expectations,” insisted Celis Jr, who will race in Formula 3.5 V8 in 2016 alongside his F1 commitments. “The car had huge grip and excellent braking efficiency, but my experience in the Formula 3.5 car had prepared me quite well for this big challenge.
“I really enjoyed the experience and I’m pleased with how the day went. For the first few runs I took things steady while I got used to the car and all the systems. Then, with each run, I started to push more and more as I kept learning about the car.
“With the programme for the day set by Pirelli, I could simply focus on my driving and getting to know everyone. 2016 is going to be an important year for me as I continue working with the team so I’m pleased to have some valuable miles under my belt already.”
