Christian Lundgaard, a leading light in the Alpine junior academy, has carried out another test of Formula 1 machinery. The Danish driver was brought to Silverstone for a day of testing with the R.S.18. Completing 101 laps of the Silverstone circuit, Lundgaard added to his growing experience with the 2018 car as this was his fifth appearance in an F1 machine. “It was a very smooth day today at Silverstone and I am happy with how it went," Lundgaard said afterwards. "We managed to get through a lot of the programme we had planned, and the car felt great around the Silverstone circuit. "We did some qualifying runs and race simulations so there is lots for me to digest and analyse afterwards. I’ve driven the R.S.18 before but it’s always great driving a Formula 1 car and I will take away a lot of learnings from today.” The 19 year old is currently racing with ART in Formula 2, but is unlikely to find an F1 seat with Alpine in 2022 unless the team opt to replace Esteban Ocon. Mia Sharizman, director of the Alpine Academy, praised the Danish driver's day at the wheel. “Christian did a good job in the R.S.18, joining Oscar [Piastri] and [Guanyu] Zhou in completing a Formula 1 test this year," he said. "It was Christian’s fifth time at the seat of an F1 test car having driven the R.S.18 and R.S.17 before, so today was largely about familiarising himself with the uniqueness of the car with a mix of qualifying and high fuel runs. He handled it very well and he looks more comfortable in the car with each test he completes. "Our Formula 1 test programme is something we are very proud of in the Academy, as it helps to prepare our young drivers for what is required from them at the highest level of single seater racing in Formula 1.”
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