Red Bull junior Jehan Daruvala is a step closer to Formula 1 after testing a McLaren and qualifying for a Super Licence.
The 23-year-old completed 130 laps at Silverstone while driving the MCL35M – McLaren's 2021 car. As a result, the F2 driver has now completed all the requirements to be allowed to race at the highest level should an opportunity to do so come along.
It gives the Red Bull outfit an extra option as they sweat on the future of Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman will remain with AlphaTauri for the 2023 season – the final year of his current contract – but then is expected to look elsewhere as he seeks a drive for a top team.
If that is the case, then Red Bull will need to promote the next driver in line from their driver development programme to take his place. That may well be Daruvala, especially in the wake of the suspension of Juri Vips after the Estonian racer used racist language while participating in a video game live stream.
The Indian is in his third F2 season, having finished 12th and sevenths in his two previous cracks at the championship. So far in 2022, he has achieved a personal best of five podiums and sits third in the championship, well placed for a battle for second but a long way off runaway leader Felipe Drugovich.
"I really enjoyed my first time driving a Formula 1 car," said Daruvala after his two-day Silverstone test. "I felt immediately at home, and while it was physically more demanding than anything I have driven in the past, I didn't have any issues with my fitness. As a result, we were able to work through the run plan well and complete everything we had mapped out.
"We did a mixture of high-fuel long runs and as well as shorter, low-fuel runs on different tyre compounds. That gave me a good understanding of how teams operate on an F1 weekend. Overall, I'm very pleased with how the two days went, how I coped and the mileage we were able to complete. I felt I was able to push closer to the limit with every lap and I can't wait to drive one of these cars again."
