Albon: Good to 'shake off the dust' and get back to racing

©RedBull

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing's Alex Albon was happy to get back into a racing mindset on Thursday, the British-Thai driver warming himself up and his team during a filming day at Silverstone ahead of next week's opening Austrian Grand Prix.

Albon had the track and Red Bull's RB16 to himself as quarantine measures in the UK kept Max Verstappen at home in Monaco.

"It was good to be back in the car today at Silverstone for our filming day and good to shake off the dust and get back into it," he said.

"I haven’t been in an F1 car for three months but after five or six laps I was right back into it. All that work in the gym doesn’t really matter until you see it on track.

©RedBull

"It’s a small track, a busy track and it was really hot today. So it’s been a good way to see where I’m at with fitness and I’m happy with it.

"It was also great to see everyone again. I’ve been in regular contact with the guys on my side of the garage since Melbourne, so things haven’t changed too much and it was easy to get that understanding again.

Overall it was a good opportunity to get back in touch with everything and to get back into that racing mindset."

Kvyat: Albon has 'big potential and room to move'

Red Bull took advantage of its 100-kilometer day of running to test its COVID-19 protocols and procedures, gearing itself up for the mandatory measures that will be in place in the team's garage this summer.

"As a trial run this has been great for the Team to enable them to get used to these procedures, which are a little bit foreign, but which are vitally important, explained team boss Christian Horner.

"By the time we get to Austria, these procedures will be the new normal and today ensures that everybody knows what’s expected of them when we get to Austria.

"It’s important for the safety of our Team and everyone around us in Formula One."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.