29/09/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's first free practice session, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. It is overcast, indeed a little 'foggy', and fairly cool.
First out is Franck Montagny, followed by Yamamoto and f1 'debutant', Michael Ammermuller in the Red Bull. Other early risers are Davidson, Sato, Vettel, Jani, Wurz and another F1 'new boy', Alexandre Premat.
As is always the case in China, Honda - formerly BAR - is sporting a new look for China, with blue, and a little yellow, replacing the traditional red.
Davidson posts the first time of the weekend, the Englishman crossing the line at 1:41.231. However, moments later Wurz posts 40.190.
As Heidfeld and Kubica come out to 'test the water', Wurz raises the benchmark with a 39.080.
Incidentally, championship protagonists Alonso and Schumacher have both undergone a slight change of image; the Spaniard sports a new goatee beard and 'tache, some might call it a Cavalier look, while Michael is wearing a heavy (gold?) chain and medallion, bling, one might say.
Premat is back on track in the Midland (Spyker), as Wurz improves to 38.322.
As Kimi climbs into his McLaren, Ammermuller goes third, ahead of Jani, Yamamoto, Vettel and Premat.
Montagny goes wide, kicking up a cloud of dirt, but is able to continue n his way. Sixteen minutes into the session, there are eight names on the timesheets. Raikkonen completes an installation lap as de la Rosa watches from the pitwall, the Spaniard showing no sign of going out.
As ever, it's an incredibly low key affair, with (mostly) the Friday drivers completing the laps. This will change next year when the Friday driver rule is done away with - thus ending a golden opportunity for 'new boys' to demonstrate their stuff - something that Kubica and Vettel, in particular, have done to great effect.
Twenty-five minutes into the session, Davidson goes quickest (1:37.404), having been quickest in all three sectors. Wurz is now second, ahead of Vettel, Jani, Ammermuller, Premat, Yamamoto and Montagny.
Premat has completed the most laps thus far (13), but remains 3.2s off Davidson's pace.
Wurz goes off at the end of the main straight - the same place where Montagny went wide - however, like the Frenchman, he is able to continue.
With Scott Speed having completed the obligatory installation lap, teammate Tonio Liuzzi follows suit. Meanwhile, Sato, who will forfeit ten grid places following an engine change, goes fifth (39.887), behind Davidson, Wurz, Vettel and Jani. Elsewhere, Ammermuller has a minor off, as the back end of his Red Bull gets away from him.
As Tiago Monteiro heads down the pitlane, Michael Schumacher climbs into his Ferrari. His crew fuss over him like worker bees around the queen.
Trulli and Albers come out to play, as does Ralf Schumacher. A large banner in the stands reads: "Ralf Schumacher - sexiest F1 star".
Vettel and Premat both improve, which bumps Wurz down to fourth. However, the Austrian is already on a hot lap, going quickest in the first two sectors. Sure enough, he crosses the line at 36.678, to take the top spot, 0.72s clear of Davidson.
Ralf returns to the pits as Montagny - who looks set to join Toyota as test driver next year - goes sixth with a 37.747.
Davidson, re-takes the top spot with a 36.270, the Englishman having completed the most laps (22). Wurz is second, ahead of Premat, Vettel, Jani and Ammermuller.
With seven minutes remaining, Barrichello and Button head down the pitlane, and Coulthard climbs into his car.
The right-hander at the end of the pit straight is catching out a lot of drivers.
As Wurz goes quickest in the first two sectors, Michael Schumacher heads down the pitlane. The Austrian posts 35.574 to go quickest, as Alonso climbs into his car.
Button goes seventh (38.600), ahead of Barrichello, but all eyes are on the German in the red Ferrari. He loses time behind Montagny's Super Aguri, but is able to post a 37.721 nonetheless, which puts him fourth, behind Wurz, Davidson and Button.
Raikkonen is back on track, as Davidson closes to within 0.017s of Wurz. The Finn goes off, but is able to continue, crossing the line at 45.890, to go eighteenth, of eighteen.
Interestingly, Michael is quickest (192 mph) through the speedtrap, with Vettel second and Jani third.
The session ends with Wurz quickest, ahead of Davidson, Button, Michael, Jani, Premat, Vettel, Kubica, Ammermuller and Montagny.
Twenty-three drivers made an appearance, with eighteen posting times. The 'no shows' were the Renaults, Massa, de la Rosa, Webber and Rosberg.