Felipe Drugovich, the team’s Test and Reserve Driver, took to the wheel of the newly launched AMR23 during pre-season testing after Lance Stroll sustained a minor injury whilst cycling, ruling him out of the three day test.
Felipe, the reigning FIA Formula 2 Champion, completed 117 laps of Bahrain International Circuit, running during both Thursday and Saturday’s morning sessions. The Brazilian driver, backed by team partners XP and Porto Seguro, shared testing duties with Fernando Alonso, two-time Formula One Drivers’ World Champion, ahead of the 2023 season opener taking place in Bahrain next week.
Felipe Drugovich: “I’ve really enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the AMR23 and I think we’ve made good progress across the three days of running. It was great to get back in the car this morning and I am pleased with the set-up changes that have been made since my first day in the car; the team have done a really good job implementing the feedback Fernando and I have given. It’s been a valuable experience to compare my own observations with those of a two-time World Champion. In general, our comments are similar and I think we’ve worked well together to help the team maximise our three days of pre-season testing.
The car feels like a step forward from last year, but we need to remember that all teams will have developed over the winter and so we’ll continue working hard to maintain this momentum. We’re feeling positive, although we won’t have a true indication of our relative pace until qualifying next Saturday.
My aim coming into the week was to learn as much as possible from each lap I complete and ensure that I make the most of this opportunity, both for myself and the for the team. I’m happy with the performance that I’ve delivered and I’m incredibly grateful to AMF1 for trusting me with such an important job. I also want to thank our Brazilian partners, XP and Porto Seguro, for their continued support ahead of the new season.”
Mike Krack, Team Principal: “Felipe has done an excellent job for the team during pre-season testing; he didn’t put a foot a wrong. We tasked him with providing feedback for the team across both short and long runs with a variety of set-up changes, and he continuously impressed us with his detailed feedback and reflective approach. Felipe’s programme this week has been useful in preparing him for every eventuality and we’re pleased with how quickly he’s familiarised himself with the AMR23 – a car he’d never driven before coming to Bahrain. He is an incredibly valuable asset to the team and we’re very grateful that he stepped up when called upon.”
Por: XP Inc. | Assessoria de Imprensa
