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From
every point of view – data acquisition, track
assessment, driver confidence, it is vital at this
unique and complicated circuit to spend as much time
as possible on track during the free practice
sessions. Therefore, this Thursday was a good one
for Scuderia Ferrari
as both
Kimi and
Felipe
got
through
the two
ninety
minute
sessions
without
a hitch,
racking
up an
impressive
mileage.
How
competitive
was the
F60?
That is
a
difficult
question
to
answer
given
that
this
circuit
presents
some
unusual
obstacles
to
“reading”
the
situation.
The
track
itself
is of
course
very
dirty at
first,
as up
until
this
morning
it was
just
another
series
of roads
in the
Principality,
with all
sorts of
traffic
leaving
oil and
general
dirt all
over it.
This
means
that the
lap
times
are
always
quicker
at the
end of
the
three
hours.
But not
all
drivers
were out
on track
on new
tyres
and
lower
fuel
loads at
the end
of
practice,
some
choosing
to do
their
lower
fuel
runs in
the
early
stages.
Then
there is
always
the
problem
of
traffic
which
can ruin
a
driver’s
best
lap.
Despite
all
these
peculiar
circumstances,
both
drivers
finished
both
sessions
in the
top ten,
which is
a good
start,
given
they
were
also
quite
happy
with the
behaviour
of the
F60.
Felipe
Massa
ended
the
opening day
in fifth
spot and
Kimi
Raikkonen
was
eighth.
Topping
the time
sheet
was Nico
Rosberg
for
Williams-Toyota,
followed
by
reigning
world
champion,
Lewis
Hamilton
in the
McLaren-Mercedes.
Next
came the
series
leaders,
the
Brawns,
with
Rubens
Barrichello
third
ahead of
Jenson
Button,
while
behind
Felipe
was
Sebastian
Vettel
in the
Red Bull
Renault.
Kimi was
fractionally
slower
than
fellow
Finn,
Heikki
Kovalainen,
seventh
in the
McLaren.
Friday
is
officially
a day
off for
everyone,
but
don’t
mention
that to
the
engineers
and
staff at
Ferrari!
For much
of the
team,
tomorrow
will be
a day
spent in
meetings,
analysing
data and
getting
ready
for
Saturday’s
qualifying.
Last
year,
Felipe
Massa
took
pole
position
with a
great
lap, but
as we
have
seen so
far this
year, it
is
incredibly
tight at
the top
and it
is very
difficult
to make
any sort
of
predictions.
At least
one
element
seems
stable
this
year, as
the
weather
forecast
is good
for the
rest of
the
weekend.
“Our
Monaco weekend has got off
on the right foot, meaning
we got through a lot of work
without losing time because
of technical problems,”
commented Stefano
Domenicali. “Everyone is
very close and so it is
difficult to assess the
pecking order, but from what
we have seen today, we can
say that we are in good
shape. As usual, qualifying
will be the vital factor
and, given that traffic
could throw up a key
variable, we will have to do
a good job of managing the
session as well as possible,
also taking this element
into consideration.”
Felipe
Massa: “It’s hard to say
if there’s been an
improvement since Barcelona,
but we are in amongst the
other front runners, which
is already a good sign.
Everything went well from
the start of the day, when
we worked towards the race.
From what we’ve seen today,
our car seems to be quick
and consistent in
performance terms. In the
past, I wasn’t particularly
keen on this track, but more
recently that has changed.
Last year, I took pole and
today I immediately felt
comfortable, working on
settings for the car, which
we had never tried before.
The softer tyres are
definitely quicker, but
after ten laps or so, you
start to lose the back end a
bit. However, we must bear
in mind that the track
conditions change a lot from
today to Saturday, so
today’s results are not that
representative.”
Kimi
Raikkonen: “We worked
our way through the usual
programme for the first day
of practice, based on
evaluating the two different
types of tyre that
Bridgestone has brought here
and on finding the best set
up on the car. I would say
the car is handling
reasonably well: there are
still a few areas where we
can improve but I am pleased
with what we achieved today.
Driving here is always a
challenge, even if Sunday’s
race can then be rather
boring, with overtaking
practically impossible and
if you end up behind slower
cars there is nothing you
can do but wait for the pit
stop.”
Chris
Dyer: “It’s always
important to start the
Monaco weekend without any
problems and so we can be
happy with having managed
that today. Time lost in
free practice here can be
more costly than elsewhere.
As for the set-up, both
drivers are reasonably happy
with the handling of the
F60, even if obviously,
there is still a lot to do.
Tyre choice for the race is
particularly interesting
here, given that the two
types available are much
closer to one another than
at other races. Qualifying
will be the key as usual at
this Grand Prix. Usually at
this track, the times are
very close and this year
they are even more so, given
how closely matched everyone
is. Therefore it will be
even more important to be as
well prepared as possible
for all phases of
qualifying.”
First session:
F. Massa: 2nd 1.17.499, 31 laps; K. Raikkonen: 5th 1.17.839, 30 laps
Second session:
F. Massa: 5th 1.15.832, 42 laps; K. Raikkonen: 8th 1.15.985, 43 laps
Chassis
F. Massa 276, K. Raikkonen 279
Weather
First session:
air 25°C, track 32/36 °C, sunny; Second session: air 24 °C, track 25/34 °C,
partially cloudy
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