Monegasque F1 pilot Charles Leclerc recently took to the track to run his first test for his new team Ferrari. Leclerc was in the car that he’ll be driving next season and he registered the best time on the Yas Marina circuit that day.
Charles Leclerc could not have imagined a better start to his first day in Ferrari red. Following his latest exploit, earning seventh place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 25th, Leclerc took to the Yas Marina circuit for the final test run of the 2018 season. The Monegasque driver looked very comfortable in the Ferarri he’ll be piloting next year, the number 5 SF71H, completing splits on the track during the November 27th and 28th testing period. The tests were organized by Pirelli who offered the opportunity to all drivers to test the “hypersoft” tires they’ll equip in 2019.
The 21-year-old Monegasque registered his fastest lap in 1’36″450. This outpaced even his own future teammate from the Scuderia, Sebastien Vittel. The day before, Vittel clocked in at 1’36″812 using the 2018 edition of the same tires. After 133 laps on the Yas Marina, Leclerc had greatly outpaced his competitors, even relegating Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly by 1″4.
Other drivers were also performing for the first time under new banners: Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz for McLaren, George Russell for Williams, and Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen for Sauber.
These drivers will be back in competition in February after some well-earned rest over the winter break. The opening race in 2019 will be the Spanish Grand Prix. It will mark the 70th anniversary of the creation of F1 racing.