McLaren 'quite impressed' by Colton Herta's testing

Successful first for Colton Herta. The American had the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 in Portimão (Portugal). An opportunity given by McLaren, as part of the test program with old cars (TPC). Herta was able to ride the 35 MCL2021 over two days, with a total of 162 laps on the clock (or almost 750 kilometers). 

This was Colton Herta's first appearance in McLaren colors after signing a contract at the start of the year, as a development pilot. At the end of this Portuguese "seminar", McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl declared that the team was “quite impressed” by the pilotIndyCar. “The aim of this test was to give Colton the chance to experience a Formula 1 car for the first time and explore its performance”, explains the former German engineer. 

McLaren wants to 'give Colton the chance to get used to the car'

During the two days of testing, McLaren wanted to show the different aspects of managing a Formula 1 weekend at Colton Herta. “There were different goals, obviously. First and foremost, we wanted to give Colton a chance to get used to the car, details Andreas Seidl. But we also wanted to make him work on different driving techniques. For example, getting used to the different operational aspects of a race weekend, such as comparing different tires, using different fuel loads, qualifying and race simulations. »

What an amazing 2 days! First taste of a Formula One car was sweet. Thank you @McLarenF1 for the opportunity👊🏻👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/2eYO8dbOja

— Colton Herta (@ColtonHerta) July 12, 2022

The least we can say is that the current 10th in the Indycar championship has made a good impression within the British team. “I have to say the team was very impressed with how Colton handled all these challenges and his professional approach” admits Seidl. The McLaren principal believes Herta's careful preparation meant he was sufficiently prepared to handle the more than two Grand Prix distances he completed.

Herta soon present for a free practice session?

McLaren will now analyze the data generated by the Herta test. The British team could run the American during an official Formula 1 free practice session. “As you know, the regulations require us to race a Formula 1 debutant twice this year in a free practice session and we plan to do so after the summer break. So we still have time to decide when we will do it and who we will put in the car” says Seidl.

“We have a first idea of ​​the potential that Colton has shown in our car. That will obviously be part of our assessment as well to know what the next steps might look like for him. » McLaren will be spoiled for choice, since Pato O'Ward is also a possibility to participate in a test session. The Mexican had the opportunity to drive for the Woking team during end-of-season testing in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Without deciding between the two young drivers, Seidl just said that he was “happy with what both have shown so far. »

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