The Red Bull Junior Team driver finishes fifth in the overall classification of the test held in Abu Dhabi, in his first contact with the Formula 2 car.
Martí and Campos Racing conclude three days of intense work with satisfaction, practically fulfilling the objectives set from the beginning and looking forward to the start of 2024.
"I'm happy, obviously there is still a long way to go to improve, we have a lot of margin and a lot of learning ahead of us. I'm facing it with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement, and the truth is that I've really enjoyed my first experience with the car and the team".
The Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi has hosted the first pre-season test of Formula 2. Pepe Martí and Campos Racing have worked extensively over three days, in their first contact with this new adventure.
The 18 year old driver started with a very clear objective; to get to know the characteristics and behaviour of the car, which is very different from all the ones he has driven so far. The set-up of the car and the performance of the tyres in race simulations also took up a lot of time. The Red Bull Junior Team driver completed a total of 234 laps, the equivalent of more than 10 long races such as the one held at the same Abu Dhabi circuit last Sunday.
He also carried out qualifying simulations, as on the morning of the second day of testing, in which the Spanish driver set the fifth fastest time of all the tests. He achieved a time of 1:35.984, which, anecdotally, would have meant him starting fourth in last week's final race of the championship.
"Overall it was a very good first contact with the car, a very solid first day. We were competitive in both long and short runs. The last day in the morning was the most difficult, we couldn't get a clean lap and we couldn't take advantage of all the speed the car had, as my team-mate showed. However, in terms of progress, I came very close to the objectives we had initially set ourselves. We finished fifth in the overall classification of the whole test, so very positive for a first contact, and I am looking forward to testing the new car for next year. I am happy, obviously there is still a long way to go to improve, we have a lot of margin and a lot of learning ahead of us. I'm looking forward to it and I've really enjoyed my first experience with the car and the team. At the end of the day, being with my home team also helps, and the Red Bull Junior Team has supported us a lot these three days, so I'm very happy and looking forward to 2024".
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