Kimi Räikkönen was pleased to return to Formula 1 action earlier this week, driving a 2010 Renault in Valencia on Monday and Tuesday. The run was not an official test, but did allow the returning 2007 World Champion to acclimatise to his new team.
After an introductory outing on Monday, the Finn stepped up his programme 24 hours later; this included experimenting with setups, a low-fuel qualifying simulation with two new sets of (demonstration specification) Pirelli tyres and a 27-lap run with a full tank of fuel on-board. Later in the day came pit-stop practice and clutch simulations, with Trackside Operations Engineer Alan Permane describing proceedings as ‘a productive and valuable two days’.
“It went well today and, overall, the two days have been helped me a lot,” Lotus driver Räikkönen said on Tuesday evening.
“Even though I was using a two year-old car and the Pirelli demonstration tyres, I learnt about working with the team and the engineers which means I can focus on the new car once we get to Jerez for the first official test. It was great to be driving an F1 car again and I feel very positive.”
Official pre-season testing begins in Jerez on 7 February. Four days in the south of Spain will be followed by two more tests, also of four days each, in Barcelona.
See more of Kimi Räikkönen in Valencia:
- Photo album
- GPUpdate TV video
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