'Almost an F1 driver now' - Oscar Piastri on post-season test in Abu Dhabi
Oscar Piastri says it felt like the first day of a new job as he set the third-fastest time in the F1 Young Driver test in Abu Dhabi.
Oscar Piastri during the F1 Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. (Alpine Racing)
"It was very, very cool," said Piastri.
"Not my first F1 test, but to do it in current machinery and see the progress from the 2018 car that I've driven a few times, to this car, was interesting to see."
"Driving an F1 car never gets old, and a very, very fun day."
Mercedes driver Nyck de Vries was fastest on the day, with kiwi Liam Lawson second.
Piastri was just 0.006s behind Lawson in third at the end of the day's running.
Oscar Piastri leaves the Alpine garage at Yas Marina Circuit. (Alpine Racing)
"We did a few setup items that we wanted to test, so I think it was quite nice to have done a few test days before so I wasn’t spending the whole day getting up to speed," said the Melburnian.
"Felt quite comfortable straight away."
"The morning we tested various setup items, and in the afternoon we did some longer running firstly and some qualy sims at the end which of course is the most fun part."
"A wide range of things today, a lot of laps, I think I did 130 laps."
"So I'll sleep well tonight, probably be a bit sore in the morning, but it was all worth it."
Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri at Yas Marina. (Alpine Racing)
Piastri comes off the back of his FIA Formula 2 championship into the reserve driver role at Alpine.
"I think because F2 has only just finished it will still take a while to leave my junior career behind…" said Piastri.
"it was my first time working with the race team."
"I've seen them before, so working with all those people that I've seen as 'above me' for the last year or so, to be working with them now, was awesome."
"It got me into the environment that… I'm almost an F1 driver now."
"So it does feel like it’s the first day of my new job."
