Formula 1 rookie Alexander Albon made a strong first impression at Toro Rosso after testing this week in Barcelona.
The F2 graduate is the least experienced of the three drivers moving up from the junior category in 2019, having earned a second chance as part of the Red Bull stable.
In fact, Albon hadn’t even driven an F1 car before stepping into the STR14 on Tuesday but would end the test with the second fastest time over the four days.
“He’d done a reasonable amount of simulator work, which you can imagine we’ve done a big simulator programme and he’s done a lot of time with us,” Toro Rosso’s deputy technical director Jody Eggington explained.
“On the filming day he did a good job getting in and here he’s been fantastic.”
His F1 career didn’t get off to a great start with a spin on the exit of Turn 4 into the gravel having just left the pits, however…
“The install off was partly engineering induced, it wasn’t directly his fault to be fair,” Eggington noted. “After that, he got into the programme and he’s been great.”
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The Toro Rosso deputy tech chief, who’ll take over from James Key after he departs for McLaren next month, then compared Albon to other rookies that have made their F1 start at the Faenza-based outfit.
“Toro Rosso is familiar with young drivers and his progress in places where he was quick initially and not quick enough are exactly as you’d expect,” he commented.
“But by the end of the day he’d ticked every box and on some of his long runs, especially on the C2 compound, he did a really good job, we’re really pleased with him, a fantastic approach, and he’s exceeded my expectations.
“It’s one of the nice things about Toro Rosso, working with the young drivers, and moving them forward.
“He’s on a steep learning curve but the young drivers’ capacity to learn quickly and move forward is really impressive, so far we’re happy.”
