Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time on the final day of testing at Silverstone, where much of the attention was focussed on Williams tester Susie Wolff.
The 30-year-old Scot, who is part of Williams’ development driver program, ended her first day in a Formula 1 car since 2011 as the ninth quickest out of 16 drivers.
The former six-year Mercedes DTM veteran, who is married to the now Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff, says she’s determined to make it in Formula 1.
“I always said I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think it was possible. I believe in myself,” she told media at Silverstone.
“After such a tough end to my DTM career, many people presumed that I was just always at the back and just wasn’t quick enough.
“Today can show possibly that is an unfair judgement. DTM is difficult to get in the right position to be in a winning car and I was never in that position, so for me (the Williams test) was about going out there and showing what I can do.”
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Wolff’s best time was 2.2s adrift of Vettel, who was one of seven current full-time drivers assessing the new Pirelli tyre that will be introduced in Hungary.
Vettel’s time was less than 0.3s faster than Australian Daniel Ricciardo had managed in the RB9 on Thursday.
Fresh from his stunning debut with Toro Rosso the day prior, Carlos Sainz Jr took to the wheel of the Red Bull on Friday morning, setting a time that would prove good enough for fourth fastest behind Vettel, Adrian Sutil (Force India) and
Nicholas Prost (Lotus).
Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Kyvat shared the running in the STR, with the latter’s stint limited to just 22 laps thanks to an off-track excursion.
