Jessica Hawkins has accomplished her first F1 take a look at for Aston Martin, driving the AMR21 on the Hungaroring.
The 28-year-old, W Sequence podium finisher and British Karting Champion, joined Aston Martin in 2021 as Driver Ambassador. As her position throughout the crew expanded, she started preparatory simulator work on the crew’s Silverstone base in 2022 forward of her F1 take a look at debut.
Final week the laborious work got here to fruition as Hawkins accomplished a lifetime ambition to turn out to be the primary lady to check an F1 since 2018. She accomplished a number of runs within the AMR21, sharing the automobile with the crew’s take a look at and reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich.
The take a look at represents a major second in Hawkins position with Aston Martin and presents beneficial perspective as she prepares to assist the crew’s entry into the all-female F1 Academy collection in 2024.
“I need to say a giant thanks to everybody at AMF1 Crew for having the belief in me, believing in me, and for giving me this chance,” stated Hawkins. “It is taken me each little bit of blood, sweat and tears to get right here.
“Once I first heard it may be a risk, I might hardly imagine it. I’ve needed to hold it secret for months now – which was fairly laborious! It has been completely value it and it is given me actually beneficial perception.
“Nothing will examine to the acceleration and braking of a Formulation One automobile and, having seemed on the information, I am actually pleased with my efficiency. Attending to drive the AMR21 has been a dream come true for me and one I have been able to fulfil for a very long time. I will hold pushing for extra and, within the course of, I need to encourage different girls and allow them to know they need to observe their dream it doesn’t matter what it’s.”
“This can be a particular second,” added Mike Krack, “for each AMF1 Crew and for Jessica, who is a vital member of our driver squad.
“We have been actually impressed by Jessica’s preparation for the take a look at – she labored extremely laborious with our simulator crew and that made it a straightforward determination to place her within the AMR21. Jessica approached the chance with nice maturity; she was up to the mark shortly and located a pleasant rhythm.
“This has been a vastly important second in Jessica’s journey with AMF1 Crew and I’m happy we might give her this subsequent step in her improvement journey by testing a contemporary Formulation One automobile.”
“Jessica excelled in her first F1 take a look at,” stated Robert Sattler, Evolution Programme Director, AMF1 Crew. “After the set up lap we had a small delay because the circuit was hit by heavy rain. That resulted in a inexperienced monitor and on her first correct run there have been nonetheless some damp patches in a number of corners.
“Jessica progressively constructed up velocity on a difficult monitor whereas managing flawlessly the complexity of the AMR21 automobile. Her suggestions was exact and correlated with our information. After three runs, the monitor had dried and he or she was already matching the reference lap speeds.
“General, Jessica executed a wonderful take a look at programme with a really skilled perspective and we hope to see her within the automobile once more quickly.”
