The
seventh round of the Formula 1 World Championship, the
Turkish Grand Prix, got underway this morning with the first
free practice session, in preparation for this Sunday’s race
at the Istanbul Speed Park. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton topped
the time sheet with a best time of 1.28.653, ahead of
team-mate Jenson Button (1.29.615) and the Mercedes of
Michael Schumacher (1.29.750.) It was very hot with track
temperatures reaching 41°C, which had an effect on tyre
degradation. Best placed of the two Ferraris was that of
Fernando Alonso, ninth in 1.30.294, completing 20 laps,
while in the other F10, Felipe Massa was thirteenth, doing
22 laps, the best in a time of 1.30.867. Both Ferrari men
concentrated on set-up work and an evaluation of different
methods for managing the blown rear wing. They ended the
session doing practice starts on the grid, as it is not
allowed at this track to do so at the pit lane exit. The
Istanbul action resumes at 14.00 this afternoon with the
second free practice session.
This
circuit does not have an Avenue of Honour, like some tracks
do, paying tribute to its biggest stars, but if it did it
would surely feature the name of Massa, as the Ferrari
driver has won three of the five races held here. In his
session with journalists yesterday he was asked what was the
secret of his Turkish success. “It’s definitely a place I
love to race, but there is no secret about it, it’s just
that I like the track layout, but of course you also
definitely need a good car. It’s nice to race at a track you
enjoy and given that I am 17 points behind the leader, which
is not such a big gap, I have in my mind that one race can
change the situation a lot, and being at a favourite track
certainly helps that feeling. I intend to push hard to
deliver a strong performance throughout the weekend. Even if
one team is currently ahead of the rest, I think we can be
in the fight for the win on Sunday.”
Tyres are
a key factor this year and because of the abrasive nature of
the Istanbul track, Bridgestone is bringing two compounds
from the harder end of the spectrum, a choice which has not
suited the F10 so well this year. Would this affect Felipe’s
chances of adding to his hat-trick of Turkish wins? “The
tyre choice does not affect my optimism for this weekend,”
began the Ferrari man. “I am very honest and if I have a
problem, I am the first one to talk about it and I always
tell the truth. I had trouble in some races with the tyres
not being up to temperature and I was struggling massively.
In the two races where we had the softer tyres, I was fine.
If everything works well here I can be competitive. I am
very confident about my driving and myself and I know what I
am able to do. That is why I am working very hard with the
team to try and improve the points where we need to improve.
When you see the leading team has taken all the pole
positions but not won all the races this season, it is clear
that having the best car is not always enough: you need to
win the race. As I said, the championship is very close and
I am only the equivalent of a second place finish behind the
leaders. So we need to keep pushing to make the car better
and better to put ourselves out in front.”
One
element that the team – and indeed all other teams – cannot
use to improve its package, is testing, as it is banned
during the season. Massa was asked if it was frustrating. “I
am not asking to have testing like we had in the past, with
thousands of kilometres every week, which I think was too
much,” he said. “But we should move in a sensible direction
to have some tests between some races to help develop the
car. It would also help the new teams.”
The season
might only be one third completed, but already the press is
speculating about driver moves for next year and Massa was
giving nothing away with his answer to a question regarding
his future. “Let’s wait a bit to see what happens, but
definitely I would like to stay here with the Scuderia,”
admitted the Brazilian. “I love working with them and
everyone respects me within the team and it would be
fantastic to carry on with Ferrari.”
Meanwhile
as Ferrari heads towards its eight hundredth grand prix in
less than forty eight hours time, one of the team's former stars
paid tribute to Luca di Montezemolo and Enzo Ferrari.
“Ferrari was and is my great love in the world of motor
sport" said Niki Lauda yesterday. "My on track career is
indelibly linked to the Reds and to two men, Enzo Ferrari
and Luca di Montezemolo. Racing for the Founder was a unique
experience because he was an incredible man, with amazing
charisma. When we were together at Ferrari, Luca and I were
practically the same age so it was natural that we should
become friends: we had so much in common, including the
curiosity to look beyond our world. Over the years we stayed
close, even when our lives took different paths, so that
when, in 1992, he asked me to give him a hand in
understanding the state of the Scuderia, I accepted without
a moment’s hesitation. There was no one better than him to
carry on Enzo’s legacy. One of the races I remember most
clearly was the 1975 Italian Grand Prix. My team-mate Clay
Regazzoni won and I was third, behind Fittipaldi and that
result was enough for me to win the world championship for
the first time. Taking the title at Monza, in front of a sea
of ecstatic fans was an indescribable experience, one which
will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
