Indonesian racer Sean Gelael described an "amazing feeling" as he drove a Formula 1 car for the first time in his career during the opening day of in-season testing in Bahrain on Tuesday.
Formula 2 driver Gelael linked up with Toro Rosso and bounced back from two early stoppages to record a time of 1:33.885, putting him eighth on the leaderboard, as he completed 78 laps of the Sakhir Circuit.
Gelael, who is poised to return to the cockpit of the STR12 for the next in-season test in Hungary, revelled in his first day of Formula 1 action.
"Today is a day I will never forget – to finally drive a Formula 1 car is something every driver dreams of, and to do it with Toro Rosso makes it even more special," said Gelael.
"What an amazing feeling! This year’s car is a beast, it’s so quick! I settled in nicely throughout the day and we definitely made progress.
"I was able to complete plenty of laps and get used to the car quickly. The power and overall grip is amazing and, compared to the Formula 2 car I drive, the grip under braking and the kerb riding are two of the biggest differences I felt.
"Honestly, it’s really fun to drive and I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible! I now can’t wait to drive the STR12 again in a few months’ time at the test in Hungary."
Regular racers Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz Jr. will share driving duties on Wednesday.
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