Breaking news
Formula 1
Sainz makes maiden Ferrari appearance in Fiorano test
Carlos Sainz hit the track as a Ferrari Formula 1 driver for the first time on Wednesday morning, commencing his private test running at Fiorano.
Luke Smith
Edited: Jan 27, 2021, 9:12 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Following Sainz’s winter move from McLaren, Ferrari had always planned to give the two-time F1 podium finisher some private running in one of its older cars in a bid to get him up to speed ahead of the new season.
With pre-season testing cut back to just three days in 2021 - down from six last year - a run-out in one of Ferrari’s older cars was intended to help Sainz assimilate with his new race crew and get used to the team’s systems.
Ferrari announced last week that it would be staging a five-day test at its Fiorano test track this week featuring seven drivers, including Sainz, using the 2018-spec Ferrari SF71H. The car is more than two years old, meaning there are no restrictions on its test usage.
On Wednesday morning, Sainz took to the track in the Ferrari for the first time, adorned with his car number 55 and sporting a black and red helmet.
It marks Sainz’s first time on-track since his last appearance for McLaren in Abu Dhabi at the end of last season, just over six weeks ago.
Since then, Sainz has already spent lots of time with Ferrari at its Maranello factory, working with his new colleagues and completing some runs in the simulator.
Sainz is set to complete an extensive test programme on-track across all of Wednesday and on Thursday morning, giving him the chance to get up to speed with the team.
He has already been at Fiorano this week to work with the engineers during teammate Charles Leclerc’s run on Tuesday, when the Monegasque driver completed more than 100 laps.
Read Also:
- Alesi ‘emotional’ over son’s Ferrari test, clarifies Academy exit
- Ferrari’s Leclerc turns first laps of F1 2021 at Fiorano
Sainz will get his first chance to sample the 2021 car, the Ferrari SF21, when pre-season testing takes place in Bahrain from 12-14 March.
Following the end of Sainz’s on-track running on Thursday, Haas F1 driver and Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher will take over in the cockpit of the SF71H until Friday afternoon. Ferrari test driver Callum Ilott is then scheduled to round out the test.
Ferrari youngsters Giuliano Alesi, Robert Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong all featured in the test on Monday, splitting duties across the day at Fiorano.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Alesi ‘emotional’ over son’s Ferrari test, clarifies Academy exit
Next article Mercedes: 2021 F1 cars 'near 2019 performance levels'
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Carlos Sainz
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
More from
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
MotoGP
MotoGP
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
WEC
WEC
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Latest news
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
23 min
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
How Max Verstappen beat Red Bull's own simulation tools with P2 in Brazil
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
44 min
How Max Verstappen beat Red Bull's own simulation tools with P2 in Brazil
Who slept best last night: Toto Wolff
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Who slept best last night: Toto Wolff
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe