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A quick glance
at the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro press release put out to
the world's media reveals a common theme - engineers and
drivers all surprised at how much track conditions have
changed since a four day test here last week. All sorts of
factors contribute to this phenomenon which basically
revolves around the amount of grip available: change of
temperature, wind speed and direction and previous rain that
might have washed away rubber that provides the grip. The
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi
Raikkonen ended the day in fourth and sixth places
respectively at the end of the afternoon's 90 minute session
in what was a trouble free day. An interested observer in
the back of the garage, making his first appearance at a
Grand Prix since retirement, was none other than Michael
Schumacher.
A result that was always going to be a crowd pleaser and
might add to the number of spectators tomorrow, was the fact
that reigning world champion Fernando Alonso ended the day
at the top of the time sheet for McLaren- Mercedes. On the
day after a street circuit grand prix in Valencia was
announced for next year, it proved Spain's emerging
influence in the world of F1. Second was the Spaniard's
former team-mate, Giancarlo Fisichella in the Renault and
reinforcing that performance in third place was the Anglo-
French team's Finnish driver, Heiki Kovalainen. Sandwiched
between the two Prancing Horse drivers was the
McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
Felipe Massa: "It is difficult to assess the
situation after these three hours of practice. The track
conditions are definitely very different to these we had in
testing last week, but all in all, I am reasonably happy
with the work we have done today. Just how happy I will be,
we will only know on Sunday after the race!"
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As the global "Ferrari 60 Relay" event draws towards
its conclusion at Maranello late next month, the
official 60th anniversary logo made an appearance in
Barcelona today. |
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The Ferrari duo of Felipe Massa (above) and Kimi
Raikkonen ended Friday in Barcelona in fourth and
sixth places respectively at the end of the
afternoon's 90 minute session in what was a trouble
free day. |
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An
interested observer in the back of the garage (top)
and during a packed press conference (above), making
his first appearance at a Grand Prix since
retirement, was none other than Michael Schumacher. |
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Kimi Raikkonen: "Track conditions were very different
to those we found when testing here last week and it is
definitely more slippery. So, we are struggling a bit to
find the right balance of the car. All our work has centred
on finding the best race set-up on the car. We will have to
study the data carefully to improve, both for qualifying and
for Sunday's race."
Luca Baldisserri: "The track has changed compared to
the way it was at the test here just last week. Our work
programme centred one just thing, preparation for Sunday's
race and on the comparison of the two types of tyre that
Bridgestone has made available to the team for this Grand
Prix. We did not have any problems but we still have to find
the ideal set-up for the F2007, especially in terms of its
performance over a single lap. But we are confident enough
about our chances on Sunday."
Free practice - First
session: K. Raikkonen: 3rd 1.22.291 19 laps chassis 261;
F. Massa: 5th 1.22.565 15 laps chassis 260; Weather: air
temperature 23/24 °C, track temperature 27/32 °C, sunny.
Free Practice - Second session: F. Massa: 4th
1.22.048 31 laps chassis 260; K. Raikkonen: 6th 1.22.251 33
laps chassis 261; Weather: air temperature 23/26 °C, track
temperature 29/41 °C, sunny.
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