If you have access to an F1 driver, why not get the person to review your new car? That’s what Honda did when they handed the keys of the all-new 2021 Honda HR-V to Honda-powered Scuderia AlphaTauri Formula 1 team driver Pierre Gasly.

Before he set off, Gasly even made a note to show off the car’s new infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay.

Also read: Prices announced for all-new 2021 Honda HR-V in Japan, smaller car, higher price

Other than the casual comments about how he can fit his entire pit crew in the SUV, he also noted that the car is smooth as he manoeuvred through a container yard.

The variant that Gasly was driving is the e:HEV hybrid variant as the Honda HR-V is sold only as a hybrid in Europe and Japan due to emission regulations. The 1.5-litre e:HEV hybrid engine produces 131 PS and 253 Nm.

Also read: 2021 Honda HR-V: 32,000 bookings in 1 month, white e:HEV most popular!

Launched back in February, the all-new third-generation Honda HR-V is slightly shorter in length and height than the outgoing generation HR-V. The hybrid HR-V is currently the most popular variant in Japan as bookings were reported to have reached 32,000 a month after the SUV made its world debut.

Closer to home, the model was originally scheduled to launch in Malaysia in the first quarter of 2022, but since Malaysia is still observing lockdown with no end in sight, plans have been pushed back indefinitely.

Also read: Originally planned to launch in Malaysia on Q1 2022, all-new Honda HR-V gets pushed back

Gasly is one of four drivers that drive Honda-powered cars on the Formula 1 grid. Surprisingly, Honda didn’t get rookie Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda to do the review instead, but perhaps another video is in the works?