Ferrari complete almost 1,000 miles in five-day Fiorano test

Mercedes

Ferrari complete almost 1,000 miles in five-day Fiorano test

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were amongst seven drivers on track

Ian Parkes

Friday 29 January 2021 17:27

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Ferrari has concluded its five-day, seven-driver test at Fiorano, clocking up almost 1,000 miles in the process.

F2 champion Mick Schumacher, who this season will drive for Haas, and test driver Callum Ilott both completed half-a-day apiece in the 2018 SF71H on Friday to bring the curtain down on a productive week for the Scuderia.

The test also saw Charles Leclerc behind the wheel for a day on Tuesday, while new recruit Carlos Sainz was given his first taste of the team with a day and a half across Wednesday and Thursday.

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A trio of Ferrari Driver Academy drivers took part on Monday in Marcus Armstrong, Robert Shwartzman and Giuliano Alesi, the latter bidding farewell to the team.

Ferrari has confirmed that over the five days the car completed over 500 laps, the equivalent to more than 1500 kilometres, or nearly 1,000 miles.

The team described the week as "a useful experience for the drivers and also for the team, enabling the crew to get back in the swing of racing, testing all the procedures for the coming season, which at least for the first part will be the same as last year’s, with personnel split into sub-groups and bubbles and having to wear masks as part of the Covid-19 protocols".

Sporting director Laurent Mekies said: "Seven drivers on track over the five days, covering more than 1500 kilometres between them made for a really busy week for the team at Fiorano.

"The most important aspect of the test was to give the Scuderia official race drivers, Charles and Carlos, the opportunity to get back into the swing of driving again after the winter break.

"For the FDA guys, it was another opportunity to experience driving a Formula 1 car.

"For Carlos and Marcus the test was also a 'first', as the Spaniard was making his debut with his new team and the New Zealander was experiencing a Formula 1 car for the first time.

"For Giuliano, the test represented a farewell gift, as his time with the FDA has come to an end.

"I think the best thing about the week was the atmosphere in the garage at our home track, with all the guys really happy to be back on track, to prepare as well as possible for the upcoming season."

For the final day on Friday, looking on from the pits was Maya Weug, who last week was announced as the first girl to join the FDA, along with James Wharton who won the FDA Scouting World Finals.