Dan Ticktum described a positive feeling in the wake of carrying out his first proper run in a contemporary Formula 1 car in Bahrain.
Ticktum, a member of Red Bull’s junior team, tested the squad’s RB15 during in-season running on Wednesday, having previously only demonstrated old-spec machinery.
Ticktum, runner-up to Mick Schumacher in last year’s European Formula 3 Championship, completed 134 laps and finished ninth of the 15 participants.
“A lot learned, first time in a modern F1 car,” said Ticktum.
“It’s a big step up from me, even from Super Formula.
“The biggest thing for me was learning about all the different procedures because you don’t have that in the junior formulas – all the different things on the steering wheels, even on push laps you have to change so many things.
“That was all a bit to take in to start with but I think I got used to it pretty quickly. All in all, really good I would say.”
Ticktum nonetheless expressed frustration at not being able to record a quicker lap on his first day in the RB15.
“I think we got some really good data for the team which is obviously the most important part of these days,” he said.
“I had a little issue on my last tyre run which stopped me from going about seven or so tenths faster.
“I’m a little bit annoyed about that but it’s not what the day is about, it’s about gathering data. In that respect it’s good.”
Ticktum’s 2019 programme will be in the Japan-based Super Formula championship, which begins later this month.
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