20/08/2005
NEWS STORY
Although, for the most part, the drivers are impressed with the new Istanbul Park facility, they are less impressed with the dirt and subsequent lack of grip. Several drivers also experienced neck pain.
That said, the McLarens looked awesome, and it would ve a brave man who would bet against the Woking team this weekend.
Ahead of the first of today's (two) forty-five minute sessions, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29 degrees. It's sunny.
At 09:00, precisely, the pitlane lights turn from red to green and first out is Tiago Monteiro, followed by Robert Doornbos and Narain Karthikeyan.
As the three return to their garages, having completed the, almost obligatory, installation lap, Albers takes to the track, followed by Kimi Raikkonen.
When these two return to the pits there are several minutes of inactivity before Juan Pablo Montoya leaves the McLaren garage. It's a slow morning in Turkey.
After another period of total inactivity, the Sauber duo of Jacques Villeneuve and Felipe Massa comes out to play.
Thankfully, for the benefit if the fans in the stands, both drivers opt to continue round after completing their installation laps. However, it's a false start for both drivers return to base at the end of their second lap, having failed to post a time.
Michael Schumacher is on track, like the Sauber duo he continues around, having completed his installation lap, unlike Villeneuve and Massa he continues around again, and consequently posts the first time of the day (1:32.249).
Next time around the German improves with a 1:31.577, as his brother leaves the Toyota garage. Doornbos and Albers are back on track as Michael improves again, this time crossing the line at 1:30.094.
As Michael Schumacher improves yet again (29.642), brother Ralf goes second (30.295), and Barrichello, Alonso and Fisichella come out to play.
Ralf goes quickest (28.993) only to be leapfrogged moments later by Alonso (27.819). Fisichella goes fourth, as Renault attempts to take the fight to McLaren.
Barrichello, who had a miserable day on Friday, goes fifth with a 1:30.038, as Fisichella goes second (28.693) to give Renault 1-2, a perfect start to the day.
Klien is on track, as are Coulthard, Heidfeld and Trulli, but it is Kimi Raikkonen, who is leaving the McLaren garage, that the crowd is watching.
The Finn goes second (28.303), as Heidfeld goes eighth and Klien sixth.
Next time around, Kimi crosses the line at 27.523 to go quickest, as Klien improves to third (28.532) and Heidfeld seventh.
With eight minutes remaining, Mark Webber goes sixth and Coulthard eighth, as teammate Klien has a minor off-track excursion.
Heidfeld improves to third (28.516), as Raikkonen goes quickest in the second and third sectors, improving to 1:27.134. Elsewhere, Coulthard goes third (28.400).
With five minutes remaining, only Karthikeyan hasn't posted a time.
Michael Schumacher's Ferrari looks to be a real handful the German is really struggling. Elsewhere, teammate-to-be, Felipe Massa, has a spin but is able to continue.
It's a McLaren 1-2 as Juan Pablo posts 27.804 to go second. However, moments later the Colombian is demoted to third by Button, who crosses the line at 1:27.330.
There appears to be a little bit of 'needle' between the Sauber boys, Massa tells his crew - via the radio 0 that Villeneuve forced him wide.
Button goes quickest with a 1:27.031, as teammate Sato goes fourth, Felipe Massa upholds Renault's honour by taking second with a 1:27.119.
Fisichella goes quickest in the final sector, but his overall time of 1:27.921 is only good enough for eighth.
At the last gasp, Montoya goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:26.857, giving McLaren 1-4.
The session ends with the Colombian quickest, ahead of Button, Alonso, Raikkonen, Sato, Heidfeld, Webber, Fisichella, Coulthard and Massa.