Albon: Adapting to new protocols "pretty seamless"

Albon completed the allowed 100kms on Pirelli’s demo tyres after an absence of 118 days since he took part in winter testing at Barcelona.

Teammate Max Verstappen was absent due to potential travel and quarantine issues and the fact that the low amount of mileage meant there was little point in splitting it between two drivers.

Albon noted that despite the long break he felt comfortable after just five or six laps, and insisted that he’s fully fit.

“It’s just been getting used to the car again, the procedures, getting used to the new Covid protocols,” he said.

“It’s new for all of us obviously, we’ve all spent so long out of the car, it’s just good to get back into it. It’s a media day at the end of it, so we’re doing a lot of filming for sponsors and things like that.

“It’s also just about getting that interaction with the guys, and getting into that mental racing mind before we head to Austria. After five or six laps I was back into it, I felt pretty comfortable with the car.

“It was good to gauge my fitness today. Obviously all that work in the gym, I doesn’t really matter until you see it on track. With the track as well it’s quite busy, there aren’t many straights here.

“It was nice to see where I was at. Every driver has done a lot of work to get to where they are now, fitness-wise, and I’m happy with where I am.”

Regarding the new protocols he said: “The way of working hasn’t changed too much, obviously the guys at Red Bull, HR, have done their work, and it’s pretty seamless.

“There isn’t really much difference. Especially for a driver, we’re used to having a balaclava and helmet on. Most of our work is done driving in a seat, so it’s not too bad.

“But when you’re in the debriefs and everything it’s just that you’re further away from everyone, that’s pretty much it!”

RBR boss Christian Horner said it had been a useful day for both the team and for Albon.

“We’re limited to 100kms and running on show car tyres,” he said. “But it’s still great to get a feel for the car, to see the car in action, for the mechanics to get back up to speed, for the driver to get his eye in after what’s been over a three-month downtime period.

“I think it’s useful for Alex to get himself dialled in again. He’s still relatively inexperienced in F1 terms, so to have a day that’s pretty spread out to do those 100kms, albeit on show tyres, he will benefit from that.”

Horner said that the team's safety concerns outweigh any issues with the new protocols.

“It’s certainly different, seeing everybody in face masks – you lose the expressions that you sometimes can read either elation or despair, either in a mechanic or engineer’s face.

“But I think it’s something that we’ll get used to. It’s important for the safety of our team, and everybody around us in F1, so I think it’s a discipline that we’ll get used to very quickly, and something that will become the new normal for the time being.”