F1, a sport where things are calculated to the thinnest margins. Even finances.
It was Y/N's dream to race in F1 one day. He was the quickest driver in junior categories. However, his F1 dreams was shattered by a driver with huge financial backing...
Today, I woke up very early in the morning. It was the final day of the Haas F1 Team bootcamp. I was extremely excited for today because I will be heading to Silverstone Circuit for my first taste of driving a Formula 1 car. I wonder what does driving a Formula car will feel like, I can't wait for the moment. I could finally tick driving a Formula 1 car off my bucket list after today.
Yesterday, I spent most of the day in the simulator and the training facility. Just training and preparing myself for today along with Pietro Fittipaldi and Louis Deletraz. Out of the three drivers, I was the one who set the most consistent lap times in the simulator. It wasn't easy driving the simulator as it is designed to replicate the feel of driving a real Formula 1 car.
Driving on the simulator was extremely fun. Even though it looks like a video game on the outside, it was nothing like a video game. There was force feedback, lateral g forces and all those physical stuff that a Formula 1 driver would experience when driving a Formula 1 car. It was extremely demanding, especially to the neck. Going down the straight feels like someone is pulling your head with full force. My head kept bouncing around when going through the high speed section of Maggots, Becketts and Chapel. The steering wheel was also heavier compared to Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars, even with power steering the steering was physically demanding.
I arrived at Silverstone Circuit with Louis Deletraz and Pietro Fittipaldi and was greeted by the car that we will be driving today. The Haas VF-17, the car that Haas competed in the 2017 Formula 1 season, driven by Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean who are both at the track as well. This is the car that scored Haas 47 points in the 2017 Formula 1 season and I already got excited by seeing how wide and big it was compared to the Formula 2 car. Immediately, I took some photos with the car making sure I got it on Instagram so my friends at home could see what I was up to.
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Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean was at the track today to give us a talk about how does it feel to drive a Formula 1 car. A few moments later, Simone Resta arrived at the track and we all stopped what we are doing so we could listen to his briefing.
Simone Resta: Morning boys, today will be an exciting day for you three because you will be driving out VF-17 on the Silverstone Circuit. Kevin and Romain are here to help you and guide you. First you will be going out with Kevin or Romain for a sighter lap around the track where they will tell you about the things you need to be aware during your lap. Then you will have 4 laps in the VF-17, out lap, 2 flying laps and one in lap. We will assess your flying laps and it will be the average of both laps so consistency is key.
I went out with Kevin Magnussen for my sighter lap in one of the Ferrari 488 Italia. I feel like the sighter lap was really helpful to me as Kevin Magnussen kept telling me about where I should brake and turn in order to achieve the highest apex speed. According to Kevin Magnussen, the entry speed of the corner isn't the most important big because of the downforce that these cars produce, the key is the apex speed and the exit. From the sighter lap and Kevin Magnussen's instruction, it would be better for the car to brake earlier into Village and let the car roll into The Loop, while taking a wider line into Luffield and straightening up the steering wheel earlier on the exit would allow me to get a higher top speed on the old pit straight and a better line heading into Copse. These are some things that I would never be able to learn in Formula 2 because of the nature of the car. Finally, the key to consistent lap times is not to use all your rubber by pushing at the first stage of the lap and that if I want two really good laps I need to be good on tyre management as well.
After the sighter lap, I got suited up. It was my turn in the Haas VF-17. I was extremely nervous when I got in. The engineer that I was assigned to was Gary Gannon, Kevin Magnussen's race engineer. He will be telling me about what I need to do during the out lap to get the car readied for the flying laps and also what I need to do during my in lap. I pulled the clutch trigger and feathered the throttle, dumped the clutch in an attempt to get out of the garage. But I failed, the car stalled. Oh how good does this look? My first experience in a Formula 1 car was a stall.
Gary Gannon: It's OK Y/N, try clutch bite point 3, more revs then dump the clutch.
I followed Gary Gannon's order which seemed to work, I managed to pull out of the garage with no problem this time. As I exited the pit lane, I turned the pit lane speed limiter off and floored it. I was shocked at how much speed this car produces, the acceleration nearly pulled my head off. However, this wasn't the time to play around, I need to make sure I prepare for my flying lap perfectly. So I paid attention to what Gary Gannon said.
Gary Gannon: So Y/N, we want to work on all four tyres, get them up to temps. Tyre temps would be on the dash if you select mode FL.
Following my instructions, I went through my warm up lap without any problems. Tyre temperature looks like they were on the green according to the dash. As I rounded out the final few corners, I listened to the final piece of instruction before I go for the flying lap.
Gary Gannon: Mode push before you start your flying lap. Enjoy it out there dude and bring the car home in one piece.
Given the green light, I rounded the final few corners and went for it......
So that's another chapter. This is the first part to Y/N's first taste of Formula 1. I will upload the second part later tonight or early tomorrow. So if you want to know the results of how Y/N did in the car make sure you continue to read along.
I was supposed to make one big chapter for Y/N's first taste in an F1 car but the chapter would be too long so I decided to split it in half. I know it might be boring for some of you but this is how the plot develops. Just stick with me for a few more chapters and it will be interesting.
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