Back on track for a short practice session Thursday at Silverstone, Alexander Albon discovered the new protocols in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In F1, these new procedures will apply from the start of the season, next week in Austria, where the camera will be closed. At the wheel of the RB16, the Thai driver completed the hundred kilometers allowed by the regulations with demonstration tires. He quickly found sensations and did not find the health precautionary measures too restrictive.
“It’s about getting used to the car, the procedures, the new COVID protocols”says Albon. “It’s new to all of us, we all spent time away from the car, it’s good to come back to it. It was a day of shooting so we filmed a lot for the sponsors, that sort of thing. It’s also about getting used to team interactions, regaining the competitive spirit before going to Austria. After five or six laps, it was back, I felt comfortable with the car . “
“The way of working has not changed too much. The people at Red Bull have done the right thing, and it’s fairly fluid. It doesn’t really make a difference. Especially for a driver, we’re used to it to wear a hood and a helmet. The main part of our job is to drive in a bucket, so that’s fine. But when there are debriefings and all these things, you have to be away from everyone, c is pretty much everything! “
Like many teams before, Red Bull Racing chose to use this test to prepare for the start of the season after long months without track activity. Team manager, Christian Horner insists on the usefulness of this day, which went well beyond the 100 km of driving.
“It’s always good to get an idea of the car, to see it on the track, for the mechanics to pick up the pace, for the driver to get his eyes used to it after a three-month break”he says. “I think it’s useful for Alex. He remains relatively inexperienced in F1, so this day spread out enough to make the 100 km will benefit him, even in demonstration tires.”
“It is clearly different to see everyone with a mask, you lose expressions that you can sometimes read, whether it is the exhilaration or the despair in the face of a mechanic or an engineer. But I think we will get used to it. It’s important for the safety of our team and everyone in F1, it’s a discipline we’ll get used to very quickly, something that will become the new standard for now . “
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