Raffaele Marciello enjoyed “a good session” during free practice at Sepang, as the Sauber reserve became the first Italian to drive in a grand prix weekend since Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2011.
The Ferrari junior experienced his maiden taste of the C34 when he replaced regular driver Felipe Nasr on Friday morning, completing 13 laps and posting the 13th fastest time on a track he had never competed before.
The 20-year-old GP2 racer, who has switched to Trident over the winter for a second campaign in Formula One’s official feeder series, was happy to go through all the items he and the Hinwill-based outfit had set before his run.
“It was a good session for the team,” said Marciello. “For me it was a bit challenging, as I was driving the Sauber C34-Ferrari for the first time ever on a track I have not driven on before. However, I felt confident in the car quite quickly and was able to improve from run to run. I completed the planned programme, so I think I did a good job.
“The temperatures were already high, so the grip level on track was low. Besides that, the circuit was a bit dirty, so the conditions were not the best, but this war the same was for everyone.”
Marciello also says he will probably get back behind the wheel of the Ferrari-powered Sauber C34 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in early May.
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