Antonio Fuoco labels his Ferrari test debut a “childhood dream fulfilled", despite crashing out of the opening day of the second and final in-season test in Austria.
The GP3 racer received the nod from Maranello last week and was one of the only two drivers to complete an installation lap in the rain-shortened morning session.
Fuoco then enjoyed a more productive afternoon, with the Ferrari Driver Academy member racking up 71 laps and gradually showing more speed before his accident put an early end to his maiden F1 outing.
“It was a great emotion to fulfill the childhood dream of testing a Ferrari Formula One car,” said Fuoco. “But now I want more!
“Unfortunately I made a mistake into Turn One, I lost the rear of the car and was unable to catch it again, so I hit the tyre wall. Until then I think I did a good job.”
“I was pushing harder every time I went out and the mistake happened in a corner where it was not possible to catch the car, after I touched the kerbs. In another corner it might have been possible to catch the car, but this experience will help me the next time I’ll be in the car.
“The mistake had nothing to do with the car being difficult to drive. I was immediately comfortable with the car, from the first few runs, and I also found the faster I was going, the extra downforce was making the car more comfortable to drive.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t finish the program, partially because of my mistake, partially because of the adverse weather conditions we had today. Of course I’m not happy with my mistake, but I also know these things happen.”
Ferrari will have test driver Esteban Guttierez in the SF15-T on Wednesday, as the Mexican takes over from Fuoco for the final day of in-season testing at Spielberg.
Click here for pictures from the opening day of in-season testing in Austria
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