• Abu Dhabi young drivers test

GP2 drivers comment on F1 experience

Sergio Perez admitted it took him a while to get up to speed © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Sam Bird
• |
• Pastor Maldonado
• |
• Sergio Perez

The general consensus from the majority of GP2 drivers at the season-ending young drivers tests in Abu Dhabi was that stepping into a Formula One car for the first time took some getting used to.

Sergio Perez, who tested or Sauber during the two day test, admitted it took him a while to get up to speed.

"It takes you quite a lot to reach the limit of the car," Perez told Autosport. "You go out and you think 'ah, I'm going quick' - and you are four or five seconds off. Especially because I drove this track in the GP2 car and the limits are pretty different so it takes a bit of time to be up to speed."

Perez also said he also struggled with physicality of driving a Formula One car compared to GP2.

"It's quite hard. You feel it. I've been training very hard, but it's another step from GP2. Yeah, definitely. I think I have to work hard on the fitness side."

There were no such problems for Sam Bird, however, who said the fitness side of driving the Mercedes was not a problem.

"Physically it was absolutely fine, no problems whatsoever actually. I'm quite happy with everything," said Bird. "It's a Formula One car so it's a very refined piece of machinery and it took a little bit of getting used to, but I think that I was able to get to a reasonable level quite quickly and then it was a case of fine-tuning. But again the guys at Mercedes were great at pointing out where I needed to improve."

And GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado said that although the difference between the two formulas was big, he was able to adapt quite quickly.

"I'm very happy because I adapted myself very quickly to the car from the start of yesterday. I maybe expected a little bit less power from the engine, but it's fantastic. The difference is quite big from GP2, but I think that all of the junior drivers are doing a very good job. As you saw the times were quite quick."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.