Jerez de la Frontera, 2 December 2009

Talking to the media who are here for these three unique days of testing for young hopefuls with their sights set on Formula 1, Jules Bianchi was bubbling with enthusiasm immediately after his time on track: “I am happy, even if at the start, my heart was beating very fast and I found it hard to accept that I was sitting in the cockpit of a Ferrari.” There was a great deal of interest surrounding the young Frenchman’s debut at the wheel of the F60 and the driver himself felt his stint as a Ferrari driver had gone well. “It’s impossible to describe exactly what it feels like to be part of the Scuderia, even if it’s just for 48 hours.

I learned a lot, including what it means to go through a debrief facing fifteen engineers, given that I’m used to talking to just one person at the end of a session.” What impressed Bianchi the most was the power of the engine, along with the braking going into corners and the fact these could be taken at great speed, only braking at the very last moment. “Running with a heavy weight on board helped me understand what awaits me next year: winning in GP2 is my main aim, although I won’t easily forget this experience and the preparation required to make it into the world of Formula 1.

To the young guys driving tomorrow, I would advise them not to go looking for the limit straight away, but to let the team guide them, given that those of us who still have a long way to go can learn so much from them.”