Alex Lynn said it had been an “amazing day” as his dreams of becoming a Formula One driver took a significant step forward with his first test session for the Williams Martini Racing team.

Watching team bosses were impressed with the 21-year-old from Dunmow’s performance as he drove the FW37 F1 race car at the test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona and provided important feedback on aero components and the chassis of the Formula One car.

Lynn was awarded the drive in his role as Williams’ development driver and he was pleased that his debut test for them went well for both him and the team.

He said: “I didn’t really sleep that well the night before the test as I was so excited about on the day.

“It was an amazing day and great to get behind the wheel of the FW37.

“We managed to get through a really important schedule and I completed a number of runs in the car.

“The team were happy with how we got on and with my performance, so all-in-all it was a really positive day.”

The Spanish circuit where the test was conducted was the same one that Lynn had raced to his debut win in the GP2 Series a few days before, but it was only his second time in an F1 car after the test he carried out for Lotus in Abu Dhabi at the end of last season.

He drove more than 40 laps on the day and was fifth fastest in the timing sheets with a quickest lap of one mimute 26.967 seconds and the Williams team were impressed with how he transferred work done in their simulator at their factory at Grove in Oxfordshire into performance on the track.

Williams’ chief test and support engineer, Rod Nelson, said: “It was a good day with Alex in the car, his first time in a Williams.

“He had done quite a bit in the simulator back in Grove but it’s a bit different when you actually get in the car.

“We were impressed with his speed and maturity throughout the day and he has helped us with some chassis and aero work.

“It was a positive day and he did a really good job.”