I’m the Mexican driver’s sixth trip that evening, so he’s received his eye in – however the ferocity with which he nails the throttle after which hits the brakes into Flip 1 remains to be… placing.
I’ve headed to my scorching lap simply after interviewing the F1 drivers post-Free Apply 2, the place each single one among them had complained of low grip circumstances on the chilly and dusty observe. Esteban, nevertheless, doesn’t seem to have gotten the message, going arduous on energy effectively earlier than the apex of the lengthy Flip 1-2. My civilian mind feels certain that the entrance finish of the automotive is solely going to understeer and wash us into the obstacles, however Esteban retains his foot planted and the nostril pulls round.
HINCHCLIFFE: The second after I knew Components 1 had actually turn out to be a part of the North American zeitgeist
The onboard footage – each Pirelli Sizzling Lap participant is shipped a fantastically put collectively edit of their lap – exhibits my helmeted head being wedged between the door body and the window at this level, earlier than the Stuart bonce is then thrown the opposite method as Esteban hoons it across the lengthy radius Turns 3-4 and onto the primary little bit of respite as we make our method right down to Flip 5.
We’re approaching visitors, although, Jess Hawkins’s black Aston Martin DBX and IndyCar racer Christian Lundgaard’s turquoise McLaren Artura up forward. ‘Ah – that’s torn it,’ I feel. Esteban, although, is in a devilish mode, and as we steam into Flip 7, he’s virtually within the bumper of Hawkins’ automotive, earlier than divebombing down the within of her into the sluggish Flip 8 left-hander.
I’m breathless at this level, however Esteban is laughing to himself. Seemingly the Pirelli Sizzling Laps drivers – all ex or present racers – prefer to have a very good time on the market…
