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2007 Malaysia GP
Team Quotes - Friday 6 April
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton finished today's first practice session in second and third respectively with times of 1:35.220 and 1:35.712 completing 24 and 22 laps. In the second practice Lewis was ninth with 1:36.797 and Fernando was 12th with 1:37.041 with 30 and 26 laps respectively.
Fast Facts
What was the focus of today's programme?
The team undertook a normal Friday programme focusing on tyre evaluation and general set-up work. This morning's practice saw Fernando and Lewis doing short runs with longer runs planned for the second session. However the red flag stoppage affected the planned programme.
How did last week's testing at Sepang help with today's programme?
The team began today's practice with a good basic knowledge of the track and the set-up of the car. At the test last week the team spent time optimising cooling systems and are comfortable with the progress made. As a result the practice today could focus on the performance aspect.
What special training did the drivers do to prepare for this race?
Malaysia is a very tough race on a physical level, with the drivers facing incredible heat and humidity that can cause them to lose up to 3.5-4.0 litres of fluid. To hydrate a fluid rich in electrolytes is used, replacing any minerals and salts lost through the effort of performing in the intense heat. On arrival in Malaysia, in addition to indoor cardiovascular exercise and light stretching, Fernando spent time playing tennis outside in the heat. Following the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis travelled to Thailand where conditions are similar to Kuala Lumpur and began training in the heat, involving running and exercises outside.
Ron Dennis: "A solid start to our Malaysian Grand Prix where we continued the work from last week's Sepang test. Today the main focus was on tyre evaluation on a circuit where traditionally tyres have very high levels of degradation. This impacted significantly on our lap times. We look forward to qualifying
tomorrow."
Norbert Haug: "This circuit with high temperatures inside and outside of the cars is really very challenging and especially so for the tyres. We did a lot of laps and learned for tomorrow when we aim to get an order like in practice one rather than in practice two."
The ING Renault F1 Team enjoyed a trouble-free opening day of practice for the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit. Both drivers completed their full, planned technical programmes during the three hours of running permitted today, with a total of over 60 laps per car. Track temperatures reached nearly 50°C today, meaning the main priority for the team was achieving a consistent balance, and confirming the tyre performance noted during testing last week. Both drivers found the car inconsistent initially, but made progress working with their engineers to reach a more comfortable compromise by the end of the second practice session. Even so, grip levels were still low, a situation that will hopefully improve as the circuit rubbers in more through the weekend.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: As the second practice session progressed, track conditions became much more like they were last week – and accordingly, we reached the same relatively good compromise for the balance of the car, as we had achieved by the final day of the test. Just like the car, the tyres were behaving in the same manner too, and we can therefore be reasonably confident that the data we collected last week remains relevant for our work. It is always nice to see our drivers at the correct end of the timesheets, but it is relatively obvious that we were running lower fuel and new tyres at the right time of the session. There are no miracles in racing, and we will only be able to assess our true competitiveness after qualifying and the race.
Denis Chevrier, Head of Engine Track Operations: 300 km per car is our notional target for each of the new-format Friday sessions, and it was pleasing to achieve that target, after failing to do so in Australia. The test last week gave us a good baseline to work from, and means we are a little better prepared than would normally be the case. On the technical front, we had no problems and everything is working normally. We will hope to build on our good start to the weekend as we prepare for qualifying and the race.
Luca Baldisserri: "We already ran at this track last week, so today's programme centred mainly on checking the data we had gathered over those four days of testing. We were able to get through the planned programme without any particular technical problems arising with the F2007. The performance of both types of tyre is pretty similar over a long run and the way we use them in the race will be based on our strategy choices. From what we could see today, I think we will be competitive even if it is difficult to work out the pecking order given that, on this track, the fuel load has more of an effect on lap times than at other tracks. Tomorrow starting with free practice and as a result of carrying out several tests, we will be using the same engines that finished the Australian Grand Prix on both our cars."
The Honda Racing F1 Team drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello concluded a frustrating first day of running in Malaysia today in 15th and 21st positions respectively.
Last week's test at the Sepang circuit had seen a small but marked improvement over the team's performance in Australia three weeks ago, but the team has so far struggled to translate that progress to the race weekend conditions here.
Jacky Eeckelaert, Engineering Director: "Following a reasonably positive test here last week, which saw some improvement in car performance, we were obviously hoping to carry that progress through into the race weekend. We have experienced very different track conditions today compared with those we saw at the test and this has made it difficult to achieve a good balance. At the close of the session we had made some progress with Jenson's car, however with Rubens' car we have a specific problem which we have not yet solved and that is something we will be looking into immediately."
In the first two free practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix none of the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers were really pleased with the set up of their cars. Robert Kubica was seventh fastest and Nick Heidfeld tenth.
Willy Rampf (Technical Director): Both our race drivers complained about the lack of car balance. Despite several modifications to the set up of the car, we were not able to make a significant step forward. We now have to analyse all the data in order to understand where this problem comes from.
Preparations for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix began today for Panasonic Toyota Racing with three hours of practice at the Sepang circuit. On a sweltering Good Friday in the outskirts of Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur, track temperatures topped 50 degrees Celsius. The 2007 season's extended Friday sessions allow plenty of time for preparation and the team took full advantage. Toyota's race drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli put in over 100 laps between them and they ended the day with the 8th and 16th fastest times respectively. The team will now analyse today's data in preparation for tomorrow's qualifying and the race on Easter Sunday.
Dieter Gass – Chief Engineer Race and Test: We got a lot done in the two sessions so that was a productive day. For both cars to run trouble-free was good, especially in the hot conditions that we have here. Even though we tested here last week we still had a lot of things to do and we went through our programme quite well. But you wouldn't have known there had been a test last week from the track which was as short of grip as usual on a Friday here. Both cars were sliding a lot and it was not easy to find a balance in these conditions. But given how many laps we have completed, we have a lot of data to look at tonight to see what changes we can make to improve our cars further for tomorrow. In Australia there was quite a big difference between the two tyres but here there is a far smaller gap and both tyres are well suited to the circuit. That means we will have to work out how best to use them over the weekend.
After a long test at the Sepang circuit last week, the AT&T Williams team focused on car set-up in today's two practice sessions, with Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima running in P1 and recording the 5th and 8th quickest times respectively over the 90 minute morning session. In hotter ambient conditions and on an improving track in the afternoon, Alex Wurz joined Nico in a set-up programme in order to emulate the competitiveness enjoyed during the test. Both drivers made progress, but consider that there is more to be found from the cars and will work hard tomorrow in the morning practice to optimise their car balance ahead of qualifying.
Sam Michael, Technical Director: This morning we had a software problem on Kazuki's car that meant he was unable to select first gear after his spin, but this will
be fixed for tomorrow. Otherwise it was a productive day running through different set-ups for the race, but having tested here last week, a lot of the work on cooling and brake wear and normal systems work has already been done.
In reaction to Spyker's protest
"Scuderia Toro Rosso confirms that this press release paper was designed on the same computer as the Red Bull Racing press release paper.
Having flown out a ten strong legal team from Austria, the UK and Italy late last night, we can confirm that our paper complies fully with all regulations regarding media headed paper and the industry standard British Universal Length Layer Size Height Interface Template (B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.)
The second round of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship kicked off today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, with two 90-minute practice sessions. After missing the four-day test last week at the same circuit, today the Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team focussed on evaluating its new aero package and the performance of the new hard and medium Bridgestone Potenza tyre compounds. Adrian Sutil recorded the team's best time of the day, a 1:38.419 in the second session.
Adrian completed his first-ever laps of Sepang in the morning practice, with a lap that placed him 16th overall, just 0.4secs shy of the two Renaults. In the second session, run in much hotter temperatures, Adrian's focus switched to testing the softer tyres and fine-tuning set-up for tomorrow's Qualifying session. The 24-year-old German completed 28 laps to better his morning's time by 0.3secs.
Christijan was however left disappointed with his day's results. Unhappy with the balance of his car in the first session, in the second session's final minutes, the Dutchman then suffered a right rear tyre failure coming out of the first turn, which had been caused by a puncture. To avoid further damage to his car, Christijan pulled over off the circuit, bringing his day to a premature end. Christijan completed 48 laps in total today, with a best of 1:39.807.
The final one hour practice session will be held tomorrow at 11:00hrs local time, with Qualifying at 14:00hrs.
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer: We had a productive day today, especially as we didn't go to the test last week. Both drivers worked on evaluating the new tyres, which we hadn't tested at this circuit before, and although we had some degradation on the rear and some oversteer, we know how we can improve on this tomorrow. Adrian was reasonably happy, but now we've got to maximise this performance. Unfortunately Christijan's afternoon was cut short with the puncture, which meant he didn't get the chance to try out the softer tyre that, as Adrian showed, gave some improvement in time.'
Hot weather and green track conditions contributed to a difficult day for Super Aguri F1 Team. Takuma was able to find a reasonable set-up for his SA07 during the second session, however Anthony could not get to grips with the car’s handling today.
Graham Taylor, Sporting Director: In the first session we struggled with low grip. We didn't want to run the car too much on a green circuit and when we did we found that we had very, very low grip. We pushed hard this afternoon, I think Takuma's found quite a nice balance and he seems to be satisfied with his car. Unfortunately that can't be said for Anthony who's struggling with his car balance and we've got quite a lot of work to do for him overnight.
The first day of running for the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit saw Ferrari's Felipe Massa emerge as the fastest driver in preparation for the second race of the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Massa topped the timesheets in both 90 minute sessions, setting his fastest time in the earlier of the two. Both sessions were run in hot dry conditions and Massa edged out McLaren Mercedes team- mates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in the morning and was pushed close for pace by Renault duo Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen in the afternoon.
After investigation with the Spyker Ferrari team it was determined that Christijan Albers suffered a right rear puncture. Investigation of the tyre revealed a hole in the centre rib.
Kees van de Grint, Bridgestone Motorsport Head of Track Engineering Operations: Tyre performance was as predicted from our experience in testing last week at this circuit. Most teams opted to run with the hard compound in the morning and conducted comparisons with the medium in the afternoon, showing the medium compound offers better grip and faster lap times. One of the positive outcomes was that the tyre marking of the softer compound showed good visibility, and made it clear for everyone to see which one drivers were using. It was unfortunate for my fellow countryman Christijan Albers in the second session, but investigation showed that his tyre suffered a puncture. Looking at the lap times there are six different cars in the top ten, so we should be in for a close fight in qualifying tomorrow.
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