© Vladimir Rys
RB16B Debrief: Checo’s First ThoughtsWe catch up with Sergio fresh from his first drive in Red Bull machinery.
For an F1 driver, sliding into the cockpit of a new car is one of the biggest moments of any season, loaded with optimism and apprehension in equal measure. But for , last week’s first outing in the new RB16B represented an even more important milestone.
After seven years with the same team, Checo is getting to grips with not only a new car, but a whole new environment as he gets to know his engineers, mechanics, and how the Team run sessions at the track.
“There’s so much to learn and so much to experience,” he grins. “But days like this are incredibly useful, because it just helps me to get comfortable so that in Bahrain [at testing] we don’t have to be concerned.”
The Team’s official filming day was not only an opportunity to embed himself deeper into the garage culture at Red Bull Racing, it was also Checo’s first experience of working alongside Max. And he adds that the task of developing the RB16B is one he’s looking forward to.
“Max is a great talent and I can’t wait to start working together with him at races,” says Sergio. “Technically he is very strong and I’m just looking forward to getting the car up there and starting to fight to get as many points as possible for the Team.”
And the process to adding performance will begin with next week’s single pre-season test in Bahrain where the drivers will each have just one-and-half days in the cockpit – far from ideal for a driver making the move to a new team.
“Yes, it does take a lot of time to get really comfortable and I expect a lot of changes in the first five races as I get used to things,” says the Mexican, though he adds that the two days he had in the 2019 RB15 before his morning in the RB16B were invaluable.
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“I have to say we made a lot of progress during those days – we changed the seat, we adjusted the belts. Conditions were not great [on the filming day] but it was nice to get a feeling for the car, for the pedals, the brakes, all the new stuff I’m going through. It’s pretty exciting. It was good and was the priority before going to Bahrain.”
However, while his return to the grid in the RB16B is exciting, ask the new recruit what he’s most looking forward to in his first season with the Team and he’s quick to point to another comeback.
“I’m massively looking forward to getting fans back at the tracks and for normal life to restart as soon as possible. To have everybody in the stands and to get that atmosphere back at Grands Prix,” he insists. “That will be very special when that happens. I think it’s going to be emotional and something we will appreciate more than ever.”
And nowhere is that atmosphere likely to be more in evidence than at Sergio’s home race in Mexico.
“I am very much looking forward to being back in Mexico. This is our national drink, Red Bull, right now; we’ve forgotten all about Tequila,” he laughs. “Mexicans are very enthusiastic and they really love the Team and they are all behind us. I'm looking forward to being back in Mexico and trying to win the race for them.”
While victory on home soil might appear ambitious, Sergio is adamant that winning races has to be the target for the season.
“The goal is to win,” he insists. “There’s obviously a process to that, which we have to get on top of, but hopefully the car is good enough for victory. We have to wait and see. Mercedes have had a good advantage but hopefully we can close the gap and give them a hard time!”
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