Antonelli: “Good pace in the tests, but we struggled with the set-up” | FP

First experience for Antonelli in F2

They ended on February 13th three days of pre-season testing of Formula 2 a Sakhirthe category in which he made his debut Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the shakedown in Barcelona. The 17 year old from Bologna Presspromoted directly to the cadet category of F1 after his victory in the European Formula Regional championship, had the opportunity to experience the new Dallaras in all possible track conditions.

Wet and dry track

In the Day 1in fact, all the riders took to the track under an unexpected rain torrential, with the talent of the Mercedes Junior Team close to the top-3 with the 4th final place. In all other sessions, except for the afternoon of Day 2Antonelli always finished ahead of his teammate Oliver Bearman on a dry track, qualifying 5th in the morning of the second day as my best personal result in these conditions.

The first comments

A positive placing if we consider the other sessions in which Prema finished testing outside the top-10, but which still served #4 to be able to accumulate experience in view of the first round of the season, also scheduled in Bahrain from 29 February to March 2: “I have just finished the first three days of testing here in Bahrain – commented Antonelli – the opening day was quite unusual, because there was a whole day of rain, but it was Nice to drive in the wet to understand how the car and tires behave. It was productive. On the second day I drove on this track in the dry for the first time, so there was a lot to discover in the first sessions. I think I've achieved it a good pace, even if we struggled a bit with the set-up. In the end, we improved a lot with the harder tires and I'm happy with the balance. Even on the last day the pace and feeling weren't bad. It was good to have a first base line with the carnow we have time to analyze it and we will return in two weeks.”

Bearman in trouble

Not entirely positive sessions for Oliver Bearmanmember of the Ferrari Driver Academy and reserve driver for the Prancing Horse and Haas in Formula 1: “It was nice to start the season in Bahrain, it's been a long wait – he added – the test was difficult with the new car, because we had to work a lot. The first day was pretty much thrown away due to the weather, but then we managed to get a lot of work done on the second and third days. We are not yet at the point where we would like to be, we need to work to find some performance, but above all this track seems to be a bit difficult for us. There is still a lot of work to do before the first round, but I have no doubt that we will get there.”