Renault Sport Formula One Team concluded the Hungary in-season test with Robert Kubica making a return to his first official Formula 1 test session in over six years. To a backdrop of enthusiastic chanting from his loyal fans, Robert completed 142 laps – equivalent to over two Grands Prix - following a programme of various aero and tyre assessments. Robert’s best lap today, a 1min 18.572secs, was his fastest-ever time around the Hungaroring, the same circuit where he made his Formula 1 Grand Prix debut almost eleven years ago.

Fast Facts:

Track: Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary, 4.4km

Chassis: R.S.17 – 04

Weather: Hot, sunny. Ambient 29°C - 36°C Track 36°C - 54°C

Programme: Aero testing around front and rear wheels. Driver evaluation with different tyre compounds. Long and short runs. Front wing aero mapping.

Laps Completed: 142

Classification: P4, 1:18.572

Interruptions: Various red flags

What’s Next?

Renault Sport Formula One Team will next be in action at the Pirelli Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps on August 25-27.

Robert Kubica:

“It was a fantastic feeling for me to be here today in the R.S.17 and also it was amazing to see so many fans come to see me out on track, so thank you to all of them. It has been an incredible journey to this point, where I have answered many questions to myself. I learnt a lot about the latest generation car, as there are a reasonable amount of differences between it and the Formula 1 cars I have driven in the past. The car is certainly wider than before. I was able to work through the team’s programme methodically and I think we made good progress. Certainly my understanding of the R.S.17 and the 2017 tyres came on a lot. After today, it’s too early to say what the next step might be. For now, I owe a big thanks to everyone at Renault Sport Formula One Team for making this test happen.”

Alan Permane, Sporting Director:

“It’s been a full and productive day with over two Grands Prix worth of laps completed. We worked through a comprehensive programme and Robert was able to give us great feedback. The R.S.17 ran faultlessly, even with the extreme temperatures we faced out on track. We have accumulated a lot of data over the past two days to add to the lessons learnt in the Grand Prix here, so we have scope to further optimise the car looking to the next Grands Prix after the summer shutdown.”

To download wallpapers from both test days, click here.