British F4 champion Fairclough makes F1 debut with Aston Martin

British Formula 4 champion Deagan Fairclough ticked off a childhood dream last week when he completed his first laps in a Formula 1 car with Aston Martin at Silverstone.

The 19-year-old earned the run in the team’s 2023 challenger, the AMR23, after winning last December’s prestigious Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award.

As part of his prize, Fairclough undertook a seat fit and simulator session at Aston Martin’s Technology Campus before heading out on to the Grand Prix circuit, where he racked up 26 laps across six runs on a range of Pirelli tyres.

"I'm extremely lucky to have the opportunity: it's a dream come true driving a car that achieved F1 podiums just a couple of years ago,” commented the young gun.

“I can't put it into words: the trust and capabilities these cars have at high speed is ridiculous."

A Day to Remember

Fairclough praised the support of the team both before and during his time on track:

"I cannot thank the team enough; it was eye-opening from the beginning, seeing the amount of effort that goes into the two cars at the AMR Technology Campus, to everyone involved on the day of the track run,” he added.

"I went out there and gave it my all, I wanted to learn what I could and maximise what I got out of it. And I was able to go out and perform straightaway because of the experience of the people around me."

The teenager, who first dreamed of F1 as a child, admitted the day fuelled his determination to keep climbing the motorsport ladder.

"I always dreamt of driving a Formula One car since I was four years old, driving it was another level, the sensation of it has really given me the motivation to get to the pinnacle of motorsport,” he said.

Aston Martin Impressed

Aston Martin’s Chief Engineer of F1 Evolution, Gerry Hughes, praised Fairclough’s handling of the occasion, particularly given the tough conditions.

"Deagen handled his time on track especially well in such windy and cold conditions. He was very confident in high-speed areas, it's impressive for someone who has not spent any time in a Formula One car,” Hughes explained.

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"We focused on helping him optimise his lap time with low-speed technique, something we continued from his time in the sim at the AMR Technology Campus.

"He's had some great experience in a Formula One car and now has some miles under him; he can now build on this in his future career and carry that experience and learning onwards."

Competing this season in the GB3 Championship with Hitech TGR, Fairclough continues his racing journey with the boost of having already sampled the ultimate machinery in motorsport – a taste that has only strengthened his resolve to return to the F1 paddock in the future.

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