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2005 Spain GP
Team Quotes - Friday 6 May
Jean Todt: Today's programme followed the usual pattern, concentrating mainly on finding the best set-up for the car and choosing which type of tyre to use for qualifying and the race. At this track, the tyres play an even more important role than elsewhere. Going on what we have seen in the two hours of running today, we must analyse all our data to do the best possible job of preparing the cars. We can expect a very close fought weekend and, as usual, we will tackle it with great determination as we strive to get the best possible result.
Ross Brawn: We had some technical problems today, which slowed our programme slightly. But the team recovered well and we made up for lost time in the afternoon. I hope the rest of the weekend goes smoothly. We did the usual comparison between the two types of Bridgestone tyre and I think it is pretty clear which way we have to go. I think we can have a good race pace. The challenge will be in doing a similarly good first qualifying lap and work on that will start tomorrow morning.
The Mild Seven Renault F1 Team completed a successful day of preparatory running ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, during Friday practice at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. Both drivers ran few laps in the first session in order to conduct tyre tests when the circuit was at its cleanest, during the afternoon, and were able to collect the necessary data to make the choice for the weekend. Giancarlo and Fernando both reported a good car balance, with few modifications to make for tomorrow, and were pleased with the overall level of performance.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: As we have become very used to saying, this was a normal Friday for us – perhaps even more so than usual because the circuit is so familiar. The R25 is usually well-balanced from its first laps, and that was the case again today – although the windy conditions meant we had to make some set-up adjustments to adapt. We have good data and answers on the tyres, which showed good durability today, and the performance of both cars seems encouraging and very similar.
Denis Chevrier, Head of Engine Operations: From the outside, the most surprising thing about the day will be that all the drivers have completed a lot of laps today. Even though we know the circuit intimately, the way in which the tyres and chassis work together will be critical on Sunday, and every team needs to collect as much data as possible in order to make the correct decision. From the engine side, we were able to run the B spec engines in both cars for the first time, and they performed well as we fine-tuned the mapping. So far, so good.
BMW WilliamsF1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld achieved the third quickest time in each of the first two free practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix. Today Nick took the entire responsibility for the team's set-up work and tyre evaluation whilst team- mate Mark Webber was forced to stay in the garage. A routine inspection by BMW technicians of Heidfeld's engine, which was supposed to do its second GP this weekend discovered a defective exhaust valve. The fresh BMW P84/5 engine which was scheduled to be installed in Mark Webber's car for this weekend, is of the same specification. This faulty exhaust valve could cause retirement in the race and the team does naturally not want to take that risk. Therefore, two engines of a new specification are being assembled in Munich and will be installed in the cars prior to the third free practice on Saturday. As a consequence, Nick is going to be penalised for the unscheduled engine change by loosing places on the grid but by not participating in Friday's practice, Mark avoided an unscheduled engine change.
Sam Michael (Technichal Director, WilliamsF1): We have had a productive day with Nick. We went through the entire set-up programme, which gave us some good information for the race. We also went through the normal checks for the cooling of the engine and the brakes. Nick had some of the new aero parts on the car which worked fine. Tomorrow, we will fit the rest of the aero parts that we have developed for this race. Mark obviously didn't run due to the engine issue.
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): We had an unusual Free Practice today. Nick has completed a huge programme very well and collected useful data for the team. The main job on the engine side is being done in Munich at the moment and the new engines are just about to undergo the dynotest. They will then leave for Barcelona and will be in the cars in time for the third Free Practice session tomorrow morning.
West McLaren Mercedes driver Pedro de la Rosa emerged fastest overall from both of today's practice sessions with times of 1:15.675 and 1:15.062, providing the team with a good basis for the rest of the weekend. Kimi Raikkonen ended up fifth in the first session (1:17.851) and fourth in the second (1:16.586). Juan Pablo Montoya who made his Formula One comeback finished tenth in both sessions (1:18.402 and 1:17.555). However on his last flying lap the Colombian went off the track at Turn Nine but was OK. The car incurred damage to the right hand side (suspension, radiator, bodywork) and both front and rear wings which will be repaired in time for tomorrow's sessions.
Ron Dennis: "Today's challenge was to adopt the cars to the ever changing track conditions which of course made tyre choice and set-up work even more difficult. All three cars ran troublefree with the lap times purely showing variation in fuel loads and tyre conditions. Kimi had an encouraging day whilst Juan Pablo's mistake in his last run means that the team has a little more work to do now than planned. Pedro put in another disciplined and constructive performance and we are looking forward to the rest of the weekend."
Norbert Haug: "A positive start to the weekend where we showed good overall speed. We are pleased that Juan Pablo is back and that he is OK following his off which was caused by him pushing a bit too hard. We completed our planned programme without any problems focusing on long runs, Michelin tyre evaluation and set up for the rest of the weekend."
Sauber drivers Felipe Massa and Jacques Villeneuve finished 12th and 14th respectively after today's first practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Peter Sauber (Team Principal): "I think Spain is a great country and Barcelona is a very nice city, and it looks as if the track was reciprocating those feelings as the day progressed. We worked on different set-ups and tyre programmes and I feel that this afternoon we were able to reach a good set-up baseline for tomorrow."
Günther Steiner, Technical Director: Tonio's and David's practice was ok. We worked on tyre evaluation and it all went well. We will now analyse the data and see the outcome. Christian had a slight problem this morning and it seems to be the electronics, but we will have to examine the car to be sure of what caused it. Anyway, I think we got enough data from the other two cars. Obviously we ran two different programmes for the three cars and I think that overall, we had two good sessions.
Panasonic Toyota Racing today made a promising start to its preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. Ricardo Zonta lost running time after a hydraulic problem in the morning, resulting in a busy afternoon for the Brazilian. He ended up recording the second fastest time in the second session while both race drivers successfully completed their programmes.
Still the second placed driver in the world championship, Jarno Trulli finished Friday's second session at Barcelona in 5th position. The Italian had a trouble-free day of running and is looking forward to the rest of the weekend.
Ralf Schumacher also had a painless day of preparation for qualifying and the race, putting in six laps of the twisty Barcelona track in the morning and 22 laps in the afternoon.
Ricardo Zonta missed out on most of the morning session after suffering a hydraulic problem. That meant he had to fit a more intense programme of tyre comparison into the afternoon, when he recorded the second fastest time.
Barcelona remains the grand prix circuit that teams test on most frequently, but this year's new track surface means there is more to learn this weekend than usual. The team will now use the data from its Michelin tyre comparisons to make a choice for Saturday and Sunday.
Dieter Gass – Chief Race Engineer: "That was a pretty good start to the weekend. Ricardo's hydraulic problem during the first session meant he didn't get much work done and both race drivers only did a few laps, but the second session was very good. The cars look quick and consistent and Ricardo was able to finish his programme with the tyre comparison. Tyre choice is going to be interesting because it didn't look that clear cut. But the car looked pretty quick and consistent on both types of tyre so all in all it was a pretty pleasing day. After a difficult weekend in Imola we look much more on the pace here."
Race drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro, along with test driver, Robert Doornbos, started their race weekend with an almost trouble-free day at the Circuit de Catalunya and completed a normal Friday programme, which consisted of tyre comparisons and evaluation as well as initial car set-up. All three drivers are enjoying driving on the Circuit de Catalunya, a track familiar to them and are confident that there is more to come from the car over the weekend.
Former driver Nick Heidfeld came to the Jordan Grand Prix hospitality to meet Alex Shnaider, new team owner and to thank him for honoring outstanding debts of Jordan Grand Prix in 2004.
Trevor Carlin: We had two very productive sessions today, with all three drivers completing the different programmes we had, especially testing Bridgestone tyres. We are now facing a tough decision of which tyres to use for the rest of the weekend. However, I am sure we will make the right choice.
With both a two-day test at Mugello and a baptism of fire in the San Marino Grand Prix during the last two weeks, the Minardi Cosworth PS05 this weekend faces the challenge of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, near Barcelona. It is a track with which drivers Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher are both familiar, even though the Minardi F1 Team does not test at the Spanish circuit with the frequency of many of its rivals. Today's activities followed the normal pattern for the Friday of a race weekend, with Minardi drivers and technical staff working on developing a good chassis balance while assessing tyres, braking and software. Both cars were also fitted with a new rear wing configuration today. The drivers experienced differing fortunes in the two one-hour practice sessions, Friesacher enjoying a largely untroubled time throughout, while Albers suffered a non-damaging off-course excursion in the opening session and a gearbox downshift “glitch” in the second. Fortunately, quick work by the circuit corner workers had the car back at the Minardi garage in short order, allowing the problem to be rectified and Albers to carry on with his programme.
Paul Stoddart, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth: Generally, it has been a productive first day in Spain as we continue to learn about, and make progress with, the PS05. The lap times came down steadily, and it is pleasing to see we have ended the day tantalisingly close to our nearest rivals. Our main goals this weekend are to consolidate the gains made on reliability at the Mugello test, while picking up the pace in order to close the gap to our competitors, On today's evidence, we are progressing well. This is in large measure due to the hard work and long hours that continue to be put in by the Minardi mechanics and technicians, so once again, a big thank you to all of them for their unstinting efforts.
The Spanish Grand Prix weekend kicked off today in hot and sunny conditions with Bridgestone's three teams Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi getting to grips with the now relatively smooth surface of the Circuit de Catalunya. The circuit, which was resurfaced over the winter, is still tough on tyres so tyre choices will be particularly important this weekend. Rubens Barrichello had an interrupted start to his weekend and lost time in the first session due to a hydraulic problem but was able to run his comparisons in the second session.
Hisao Suganuma, Bridgestone Motorsport Technical Manager: Track conditions were reasonable today from the start, enabling the cars to start running at a good pace. Obviously Ferrari didn't get much running in the first session but were able to carry out their tyre comparisons in the second session. Jordan and Minardi too completed their programmes and we have plenty of data from which we can make our recommendations for the tyre choice. The hot conditions here are not extreme in comparison to Malaysia or Bahrain and I'm sure we'll have a good race pace this weekend.
Ross Brawn, Technical Director of Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: We had some technical problems today which held up the programme a bit but we've recovered well. We hope that's it for the weekend. We've done our tyre comparisons and it's pretty clear which way we want to go and we have all the data we would want there. I think we'll have a good race pace.
Test driver Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren Mercedes) set fastest lap on the opening day of the Spanish Grand Prix meeting at the Circuit de Catalunya, in the outskirts of Barcelona. Comfortably quickest this morning, the Spaniard improved to 1m 15.062s in the closing moments of this afternoon's second free practice session.
Toyota reserve Ricardo Zonta (Toyota) was second overall as five Michelin teams took a clean sweep of the top ten positions on aggregate.
The B·A·R-Honda team will miss the Spanish Grand Prix – and Monaco, a fortnight from now – after picking up a two-race ban for an alleged rule infringement in the recent San Marino Grand Prix. Its drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato originally finished third and fifth at Imola, but an FIA International Court of Appeal found the team guilty of using fuel as weight ballast, in contravention of F1 regulations. The team has protested its innocence, but has decided not to take the case to a civil court.
Juan Pablo Montoya (Team McLaren Mercedes) has returned to the cockpit this weekend after missing two races with a shoulder injury. The Colombian was 11th overall at the end of the two free practice sessions – but he crashed heavily moments before the chequered flag was shown this afternoon.
Mark Webber (Williams-BMW) did not appear on track at the Circuit de Catalunya today. The team discovered faulty exhaust valves on both its cars' engines and has little choice but to replace them. Fresh-specification V10s will be installed on Saturday morning. By not running today, however, Webber will not be deemed to have had an unscheduled engine change (he is due a fresh V10 for this event) and will not be docked 10 places on the grid. His team-mate Nick Heidfeld cannot escape such a penalty, however, because he was supposed to complete one more race without a change.
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director: "Although the Circuit de Catalunya has been resurfaced and is no longer as abrasive as it used to be, its combination of tight corners and fast, high-speed sweeps is always going to place a significant load on tyres. During the build-up to the race the new surface hasn't made the task for our engineers any easier, and it has given them a different type of problem to assess.
"We brought three different types of tyre to this race and it is conceivable that all will be used on Sunday, because they appear well suited to the conditions. We have accumulated plenty of useful data today and that has given us an excellent platform on which to build for the balance of the weekend."
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