Alpine Academy prospect completes over 100 Silverstone laps in F1 test

Alpine granted academy driver Christian Lundgaard his third opportunity to get behind the wheel of F1 machinery in a private test at Silverstone on Tuesday.

Lundgaard is one of five drivers enrolled in the Alpine Academy and one of three competing in F2 this season, the others Guanyu Zhou and Oscar Piastri.

The Danish 19-year-old completed 101 laps of running in the 2018 Renault, with the team running a mix of programmes to provide experience of both qualifying and race scenarios.

“It was a very smooth day today at Silverstone and I am happy with how it went," he said. "We managed to get through a lot of the programme we had planned, and the car felt great around the Silverstone circuit.

"We did some qualifying runs and race simulations so there is lots for me to digest and analyse afterwards. I’ve driven the R.S.18 before but it’s always great driving a Formula 1 car and I will take away a lot of learnings from today.”

Lundgaard previously lapped an F1 car in 2019 and 2020 and his test completed means all three F2 drivers on Alpine's roster have completed running in the R.S.18 this year.

Alpine Academy director Mia Sharizman said: "Christian did a good job in the R.S.18, joining Oscar and Zhou in completing a Formula 1 test this year.

"It was Christian’s fifth time at the seat of an F1 test car having driven the R.S.18 and R.S.17 before, so today was largely about familiarising himself with the uniqueness of the car with a mix of qualifying and high fuel runs.

"He handled it very well and he looks more comfortable in the car with each test he completes.

"Our Formula 1 test programme is something we are very proud of in the Academy, as it helps to prepare our young drivers for what is required from them at the highest level of single-seater racing in Formula 1."

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