Alexander Albon says he can still gain a lot by improving how he makes settings changes at the wheel of his Toro Rosso.
The newcomer only tested a Formula 1 car for the first time during the shakedown of Toro Rosso’s STR14.“I’m still getting used to it,” said Albon after completing his third of four pre-season tests today. “But with my engineer I’m getting more in the rhythm.
“I think the main thing at the minute is just trying to use all the tools on the steering wheel. There’s quite a lot of potential there just in terms of tyre-saving and all that kind of thing. It can really affect the balance just by a couple of switches.
“I was just trying to make that become more natural. At some points you are ‘do-it-yourself’ rather than your engineer kind of suggesting [to] you things to do. That’s kind of the main area at the moment.”
Albon said he focused his attention on familiarising himself with the car’s complex systems during the off-season.
“In that winter period when I wasn’t driving the car that was really my main focus, trying to be as well-prepared mentally. Really understanding the car before I even drive it.
“Even with the switches and what the team says to me, all the procedures, all the codes, just kind of testing myself and making in some ways procedures where when we go to the simulator it all becomes kind of a little bit natural. Then I almost don’t have to think about it.
“I think that’s one of the important things. It’s one thing doing switches but there’s another thing doing all that kind of thing and not losing time. And so that’s I’ve been quite happy with that side of it. Obviously the more I do the more it will be easier.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2019 F1 season
- Crying in the Melbourne car park at 2019 grand prix was my career low – Ocon
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
BlackJackFan
27th February 2019, 4:20
I would probably have difficulty even switching the ‘wheel’ on… How these guys do it at speed amazes me…
[NOT sent from my mobie… because I can’t switch it on… ;-) ]
lunaslide (@lunaslide)
27th February 2019, 7:12
Some rudimentary ability to control computers now exists at the hobbyist level with off the shelf parts and some custom micro-controller code: https://www.instructables.com/id/Control-A-Computer-With-Your-Mind/
We can only guess what level of sophistication military research has reached with this technology. How long before F1 teams begin deploying thought controlled interfaces? It’s going to be an interesting next decade.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
27th February 2019, 7:24
Just press the “Go Faster” button Alexander and we will all be happy ;)
Seriously though, I can only automatically react with half, maybe three quarters, of the buttons on my joypad when playing a game.
How these guys can remember what every dial/switch/button does, and then instantly use them in the heat of racing is amazing.
Their brains must be boiling!
Jere (@jerejj)
27th February 2019, 10:04
With STR, for some reason, the background color of the steering wheel display is blue while in the pit lane unlike with the rest of the teams that all have it black both when running on a track, as well as, in the pit lane.
DC2812 (@diegof1)
27th February 2019, 12:57
It’s an interesting insight from a rookie driver, that we may often look over. We are used to hearing how engineers give instructions to drivers as to which setting to input, and this shows how difficult it is to learn and master, and how much concentration a driver needs during the race.