Japanese racing star Naoki Yamamoto earned the plaudits from Toro Rosso after his practice appearance at Suzuka on Friday.
The reigning Super Formula and Super GT champion finished just a tenth behind regular driver Daniil Kvyat, albeit on a faster tyre compound, on his first outing in a Formula 1 car.
But the Russian was particularly impressed by Yamamoto, albeit noting his greater experience of the historic circuit.
“I think he did a good job, a very good job,” Kvyat said. “Obviously he is local, so he knows his way around here. I told him to turn left out of the pit box, but he didn’t!
“We were on quite different programs with the tyres so it was hard to judge, but what I saw it looked like he definitely knows how to drive a racing car, especially around here, and he is a nice guy as well.”
Pierre Gasly gave up his seat for Yamamoto to get the chance to excite his home crowd and his relationship with the 31-year-old does go back having raced each other in Super Formula in 2017.
“He helped me a lot that year [in Super Formula], I know how nice he is and how much he wanted to try F1,” said the Frenchman.
“After the session, I asked him if he enjoyed it and he told me, ‘the power is amazing!’. I know that he really enjoyed it which was the main thing and he did really well as well.
“We managed to get almost everything we wanted.”
As for Naoki himself, despite the thrill, he admits he wanted to get more from his experience.
“I’d like to say yes but for sure I wanted to make a more good result – I’m a racing driver, this position [P17] is not satisfying,” he said on whether Toro Rosso had been impressed.
“But the most important is I give great information for the team. This weekend I wish a good result for the team, especially Pierre, who gave me his car. I’m grateful to him for that.
“This is my home Grand Prix, it’s a lot of fun coming to Suzuka, even just for Friday FP1,” he added.
“I’m really surprised [by the car] and would like to say thank you to everybody, Honda, Toro Rosso and my fans.”
Though ruling out a future seat in F1, Red Bull’s Christian Horner admitted the 31-year-old had proven himself worthy of the outing.
“He’s done a very good job for his first session in a Formula 1 car,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think he acquitted himself extremely well. He’s had a very successful career racing over here and with Jenson [Button] in the GT cars.
“He doesn’t fit the criteria [for a race seat] at the moment, but he’s certainly worth giving a run and having a look at today.”