Both driver got extensive time behind the wheel of the 2020 Scuderia Ferrari wheel today at the end of season Formula 1 testing session.

Driving the two SF1000s for the first time would have been a dream come true for both drivers.

For Shwartzman, this was his first appearance in an official Formula 1 test session. Back on 30 September, as part of the FDA’s #RoadToF1 programme, the Russian, drove an SF71H at the Fiorano track.

Overall he completed 129 laps, more than two Grand Prix distances, on the C4 and C5 compound tyres. His best time was a 1.38.157, set in the final hour of the session.

“I feel very good, awesome, it’s a dream come true! You know when you are a little kid and you are watching Ferrari winning, and you always dreamed about ‘when is that day going to come when I am going to sit in it and drive this car?’ It happened today and it was very nice. I feel like this is just the beginning, this is the point when you understand you just started your job and you need to work hard and improve, so I am happy I finally reached that point where I made that step for my future. It’s very nice. It wasn’t the easiest day and I am quite exhausted now because I had a lot of new things to deal with, a lot of information and a lot of running!

The back of my neck is a bit sore, from the heavy braking, but apart from that, I am feeling really well. Steering wise, driving this car is easier than the F2 cars, so no problems there. I did the most laps today and each one of them felt really cool.”

His partner on track for the team today Fuoco was experiencing his fourth test session on-track. Previously he has driven at Spielberg in 2015 and at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in 2016 and 2019. He completed 126 laps, the best in 1.37.817, set on the C5 tyres.

“This was a very good day and we managed to get through our programme, completing 126 laps, which is more than two race distances. Along with the team, we gathered a lot of data to analyse which will be useful for next season.

As a driver that specialises in working in the simulator, it is extremely useful for me to be able to get in the real car from time to time to reacquaint myself with what it feels like being in the cockpit. On top of that, we were able to work specifically on verifying the correlation between our tools in Maranello and the SF1000 on track.

Finally, I should say that every time I get offered the chance to jump in a Ferrari, I get rather excited. As an Italian, I’m very proud to be part of this family for the past eight years and I thank the team for having chosen me to drive again this time.”