10/06/2006
NEWS STORY
Yesterday was hot, and by all accounts today it is going to be even hotter, which is bad news for the teams as they struggle to find grip.
Eight teams tester here in late April but now, in what is traditionally known as 'flaming June', temperatures are considerably higher, so much of the work done then has gone out the window. This manifested itself yesterday with the amount of offs, however, thankfully, there were no serious incidents. The strong wind was also a problem for many drivers - no jokes thank you.
Anyway, ahead of today's sole free practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. Conditions are ideal.
The lights go green, and first out is Tiago Monteiro, followed by Sato, Albers and Montagny.
The Japanese driver posts the first time of the day, crossing the line at 1:29.483, with teammate Franck Montagny going second with a 1:30.077. The Midland drivers return to the pits having completed an installation lap.
Six minutes into the session, David Coulthard heads down the pitlane as the Super Aguris continue lapping the Northamptonshire track, Montagny getting down to 27.809 and Sato 28.483.
As Coulthard goes quickest in the first sector, Liuzzi leaves the Toro Rosso garage. Having gone quickest in sector two, Coulthard locks up at Priory, nonetheless he goes quickest with a 1:26.628.
As Coulthard gets down to 25.598, as Sato and Montagny both get down into the 27.5s. Liuzzi goes fourth, as the Midland duo returns to the track. However, there are problems for Albers who stops on track after a spin. Elsewhere, Liuzzi goes second with a 27.491.
Tiago Monteiro goes second with a 1:27.108, and immediately goes quickest in the first sector, going on to post a 25.667, edging out Liuzzi who for a few brief moments had reclaimed the second spot.
Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen are both on track as Monteiro goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:25.100.
While Trulli returns to the pits, Kimi continues, immediately going quickest in the first sector. Sure enough the Finn goes quickest, posting a 1:24.513. Next time around the McLaren driver improves to 1:24.211.
As Jarno Trulli leaves the pits again, Kimi posts 23.742 having gone quickest in the first two sectors, however, the Finn is having to work very hard.
Twenty-one minutes into the session, Alonso and Heidfeld head down the pitlane, along with Ralf, Barrichello, Button and Villeneuve.
Fernando Alonso immediately goes quickest in the first sector, as the yellow flags come out following an incident involving Sato who has hit the barriers at Becketts. The Japanese driver os OK, but his front right is hanging off at a crazy angle.
Despite the yellows, Alonso goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:23.739. Heidfeld is fourth, Ralf sixth, Trulli eighth and Button twelfth.
Further disaster for Super Aguri as Montagny goes off into the gravel, like Sato, his session is over.
Michael Schumacher is on track and immediately goes quickest inn the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:23.217. Teammate Felipe Massa slots in right behind, posting 1:23.401. The Italian team didn't test here in April, indeed it hasn't been here since last year.
Next time around the German improves to 1:22.435, as Montoya goes third with a 23.731.
Just after half-time and it's; Michael, Massa, Montoya, Alonso, Raikkonen, Klien, Liuzzi, Button, Speed and Monteiro.
Fisichella and Webber have not yet been out, while albers, who suffered a driveshaft failure following his off, is the only other driver that hasn't posted a time.
Nico Rosberg goes tenth (24.850), then improves to sixth, crossing the line at 1:24.345.
Thirty six minutes into the session, Fisichella finally leaves the pits, the last driver to make an appearance this morning.
Webber posts 26.063 to go fifteenth, leaving Fisi as the only driver who hasn't posted a time. That said, the Italian posts 1:23.880 to go sixth, ahead of Heidfeld, Rosberg and Klien.
Next time around Fisichella goes quickest in the second sector, crossing the line at 21.859 to take top spot from Michael.
Button is currently down in fourteenth, while Barrichello, who has completed just 3 laps, is languishing in twenty-first.
Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, going on to cross the line at 1:21.870, to give Renault a 1-2. However, like Raikkonen, and several other drivers, the Spaniard is having to work very hard in the cockpit.
Villeneuve improves to seventh with a 23.738, ahead of Trulli and Heidfeld.
From out of nowhere, Button produces a 22.596 to go fourth, splitting the two Ferraris. Teammate Barrichello improves to nineteenth.
Michael Schumacher aborts a lap and heads back into the pits, as Monteiro goes sixth with a 1:23.307, edging out Raikkonen and Montoya. Talking of Montoya, the Colombian goes very wide but keeps it all together. It's clear that there is still a real lack of grip out there.
Temperature have now risen to 26 (air) and 36 (track), with seven minutes remaining.
Fisichella and Michael leave the pits for a final assault on the top spot, Button, Villeneuve, Rosberg and Webber are right behind them.
Ralf improves to fifteenth (24.478), as Michael sets a personal best in the first sector. In the second sector the German goes quickest, finally crossing the line at 1:20.919, that's 0.940s quicker than Fisichella. Elsewhere, Villeneuve goes fourth (22.229) and Coulthard sixth (22.681).
Finally, Rubens Barrichello posts a good time, the Brazilian going fifth with a 1:22.023. Meanwhile, a 1:21.361 sees Heidfeld go second.
Liuzzi is up to seventh, as teammate Speed goes ninth, the two Toro Rosso drivers split by Jenson Button.
Felipe Massa goes quickest in the first sector as the chequered flag comes out. The Brazilian crosses the line at 1:21.633 to go third, as Ferrari throws sown the gauntlet.
In one fell swoop, Kimi improves from fourteenth to fourth, crossing the line at 1:21.771, albeit 0.852s off Michael's pace. However, the Finn spins off track and consequently parks his car.
The session ends with Michael quickest, ahead of Heidfeld, Massa, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Alonso, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Liuzzi and Speed.
Button is eleventh, ahead of Coulthard, Monteiro, Klien, Montoya, Trulli, Weber, Rosberg, Ralf, Montagny and Sato.
The Ferraris look good, as do the Renaults, Raikkonen and the BMWs, while Montoya's lack of laps gives cause for concern.
Whatever the teams might have achieved here in April has come to nought, while it is clear that the lack of grip and the problems in finding an ideal set-up, mean that we are going to see plenty more offs over the course of qualifying and the race.