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After spending
five days testing with several other F1 teams in Bahrain,
Ferrari will today kick off a further private test programme
at the Gulf circuit which will play host to the F1 season
opener on 12 March. Ferrari were joined by Honda and
Scuderia Toro Rosso for the week-long official test with
Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa being joined by official
test driver Luca Badoer for the Scuderia.
The testing started last Monday for Ferrari with the first
priority of the day's programme being to fine tune as much
as possible the two cars that would be used during the week:
an F2004 chassis fitted with a regulated power V10 to
simulate this year's regulations, and the new 248 F1, the
two cars on the opening day in the hands of Luca Badoer and
Felipe Massa respectively. Also on the agenda was the start
of a Bridgestone tyre testing programme with an eye to the
first races of the season. Badoer covered a total of 77 laps
during the first day, his quickest lap in a time of 1:32.297
made him the fastest driver of the day; while Massa
completed 51 laps, his best performance being ,a 1:32.952.
Also on track was the new Honda RA106 in the hands of two of
the team's test drivers and a Scuderia Toro Rosso RB1
chassis piloted by American Scott Speed.
"I am very pleased that we have come to the Bahrain
International Circuit as it is an ideal track to prepare for
the season. The asphalt is very good and once it has been
cleaned of the sand, the track conditions remain very
consistent for the rest of the session. This is a very
important test for us because we can practice in the same
conditions we will have at the first race of the season",
said Badoer at the end of day one.
Day two
(Tuesday) saw Ferrari's schedule centred on tyre testing and
set-up work for both drivers. Massa, at the wheel of a 248
F1, covered 68 laps the quickest in a time of 1:31.908. Luca
Badoer, back at the wheel of the V10-engined F2004,
completed 63 laps, the quickest in 1:31.230. It was also the
fastest time of day two, 0.223 and 0.259 seconds ahead of
Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello in the two new Honda
RA106 chassis, respectively. Wednesday saw Ferrari focusing
their programme around tyre testing, set-up work and
electronics, for both drivers. Felipe Massa, now at the
wheel of a V10-powered F2004, completed 92 laps, the
quickest in 1:30.029. The Brazilian posted the fastest time
of the day 1.249 seconds ahead of Button and 1.611 ahead of
Barrichello. Michael Schumacher, joining the test for the
first time, took over driving duties in the 248 F1, running
37 laps, the quickest in 1:32.229. Due to a mechanical
problem, the German had to stop his running for the day at
the end of the morning session.
The penultimate day (Thursday) focused on tyre testing and
set-up work for both drivers. Massa, at the wheel of the
F2004 completed 90 laps, the quickest in 1:30.578.
Schumacher in the 248 F1 completed most of his running only
in the last couple of hours of the day, turning in a total
of 23 laps, the quickest in 1:32.909. |
