Fresh F1

The first test day at the Malaysian Sepang track saw the Polish BMW driver top the time sheets ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari. Third was Alex Wurz’s Williams.

SEPANG (Malaysia), 27th March 2007 - Robert Kubica completed 92 laps while Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari only managed 54 laps. The Ferrari star, winner in Australia in the opening race of the season, worked mainly on setting up the F2007 for the Malaysian GP on the 8th of April. The Pole has instead tested new aerodynamic solutions and changes to the gearbox (Kubica retired in Australia with a gearbox problem).

ENGINE PROBLEM - Raikkonen has been forced to sit out of today’s test for two hours because of a hydraulic problem on his F2007. What Ferrari could be more concerned about is the engine used by the Finn in Melbourne. As Fresh F1 previously reported, technicians from Maranello are estimating the state of the engine and will decide before the race what the best decision will be (to keep the engine or change it - with a 10 places penalty on the grid).

THE OTHERS - Third time for the Williams of Wurz (1′ 36″334). The Grove team concentrated on the improvement of the single lap performance and also tested the new tyre marking solutions for Bridgestone. The Austrian preceded the Honda of Barrichello (1′ 36″826) and the McLaren of De la Rossa (1′ 37″106). The Honda RA107 is equipped with a new rear suspension and a new aerodynamic package. McLaren’s Spanish test driver will be replaced tomorrow by Lewis Hamilton. Franck Montagny’s Toyota was behind them (1′ 37″267) and also caused the only red flag of the day due to a mechanical problem. The Super Aguri of Takuma Sato was seventh fastest (1′ 37″389) . Super Aguri will debut a new aerodynamic package tomorrow. Eighth time for the Red Bull of David Coulthard (1′ 37″609), ahead of the Renault of Nelson Piquet Jr (1′ 38″199) who tested some engine changes.
The times:
1. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) 1′ 36,187 (92 laps)
2, Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1′ 36,302 (54)
3, Alex Wurz (Williams) 1′ 36,334 (90)
4, Rubens Barrichello (Honda) 1′ 36,826 (83)
5, Pedro De la Rosa (McLaren Mercedes) 1′ 37,106 (60)
6, Franck Montagny (Toyota) 1′ 37,267 (74)
7, Takuma Sato (Super Aguri) 1′ 37,389 (72)
8, David Coulthard (Red Bull) 1′ 37,609 (84)
9, Nelson Piquet Jr (Renault) 1′ 38,199 (33)
10, Scott Speed (Red Taurus) 1′ 38,503 (69)

Record in testing:
Alonso (Spain-Renault, 2005) 1′ 32″582; average speed: 215,536 km/h

Source:Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian)

~ by Wiz Kid on March 27, 2007.