Sergey Sirotkin: “A positive and rewarding process”

The Russian public will not only be able to cheer for Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) tomorrow during the first runs on the Sochi track, but also his compatriot Sergey Sirotkin, since Renault Sport F1 Team will entrust the R.S.17 usually driven by Nico Hulkenberg to the 21-year-old pilot.

These free practices 1 will constitute the second appearance of the former GP2 Series resident, after the tests organized in the wake of the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Sakhir track.

“I’m obviously looking forward to them, proclaims Sirotkin. This season I have discovered so far that it is not very easy to be on a circuit without being in the car. Watching the other drivers on track is quite frustrating, I want to be there too.

I'm learning a lot with the team and it's a positive and rewarding process, but just not as much as competing. The Bahrain tests were a good first experience with the R.S.17. »

Developments at Renault

Sergey Sirotkin also admits to having had no difficulty finding the rhythm behind the wheel of the new 2017 single-seaters, designed according to the new technical regulations.

“The single-seaters are really fast this year,” comments the Russian […] It was a complete program and I enjoyed every second behind the wheel, even if it wasn’t the most exciting for the driver.

At the end of the day, I'm here to do what the team asks me to do. This will be my approach for EL1. If I have to do aero runs, I will. If I have to do a qualifying simulation on ultra-soft tires, I will do that too. »

Sirotkin should also benefit from the new features brought by Renault for this Sochi meeting, after hitting the track during the Bahrain tests.

“We hope that the test work will come to fruition and that all the new parts tested will work as well here in Sochi as they did during the evaluation. » precise Cyril Abiteboul, director of Renault Sport Racing.