Jaime Alguersuari yesterday admitted that his lack of experience with Formula One cars was a handicap but insisted that he can cope and gain the experience he needs to be competitive in motorsport’s top echelon.
“To be honest I’ve done just two aero tests,” he said of his limited running in Formula One cars prior to his debut for Scuderia Toro Rosso in Hungary this weekend. “But for sure I’m very happy to be here to learn the car, learn a new situation. But at the end of the day it’s just another car for me another car in my racing career, in my life and I’m really looking forward to driving it.”
Despite the lack of F1 experience, the 19-year-old comes to Formula One with a superb track record behind him, having last year become the youngest ever British F3 champion and from making a successful switch to World Series by Renault earlier for this season. As such the Spaniard has at least experienced racing on most of the European Gran Prix circuits in other formulae and said he was hoping to build on that through the remaining races of the F1 season.
'In the end it’s just one steering wheel and two pedals, like everything else. so my target is to learn and to drive'
“I know this track,” he said. “I’ve raced here before so I’m quite lucky in that regard. I’ve raced most of the European tracks. But obviously the overseas ones I haven’t raced at before, I don’t really know Japan or Singapore or Brazil, so it’s a good time for to learn the tracks in Formula One.
“This weekend here, it’s not an easy track to do the first race at,” he added. “But that’s what we have and the most important thing is to drive the car and learn the tracks this year and to gain the best possible experience from that.”
The Toro Rosso driver’s arrival into the F1 paddock was made easier by a visit from compatriot and double world champion Fernando Alonso yesterday morning.
“We had a talk this morning” said Alguersuari. “Fernando obviously congratulated me for getting the seat, he’s very happy for me, and also told me to just have fun and enjoy the moment and to be honest that’s what I’d tell any racing driver in my position.”
Now the focus turn to tomorrow practice sessions and getting to grips with his Toro Rosso car. Alguersuari though is taking it all in stride. “I’m relaxed,” he said. “I know what I can do and I know what people expect from me and I know what people expect of me. For me it’s another car, another race. In the end it’s just one steering wheel and two pedals, like everything else. so my target is to learn and to drive. That’s all.”
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