Formula One news

Good start for Williams team

On the first Friday of the 2005 F1 season Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld had two uneventful practice sessions for the Australian Grand Prix with both the drivers achieving reasonable mileage.

"It's been a better fist day than I had expected after the winter testing," Heidfeld said. "I only had a small electronic issue this morning that slightly delayed my programme and prevented me from completing all the laps that we had planned. In the afternoon everything went according to plan and it was a nice finish to this first day."

Starting the season with his home Grand Prix Mark Webber commented in Melbourne: "We've got the first free practice sessions out of the way, which is always a good thing to do at the start of the season and we have now completed our tyre comparison. In the second session we had a small problem with the fuel system of the car and we lost some time there but the mechanics got it fixed pretty quickly.

"We spent our time mainly testing tyres and also saving the engine for the race and the next race weekend. We're on the way and so far, so good."

Sam Michael, Williams technical director, said: "It's good to start the first race weekend of the season. On both cars we spent the day evaluating tyre compounds and race set-up. On Mark's car we had a problem with the fuel pressure sensor which cost him some time in the second session. Generally we are about where we expected to be. Now we are concentrating on the set up for qualifying but the forecast looks like it will be a full wet day tomorrow."

more news

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• 03 Sep.
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• 02 Sep.
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  • Button: Spa is just great!
  • Brawn hopes for mixed weather conditions
  • Toro Rosso invites Sato and Buemi for test
  • Glock hoping to score more points
  • Renault not giving up on fourth
  • Piquet determined to score at Spa
• 01 Sep.
  • Ecclestone supports Mosley
  • Trulli expects another strong weekend
  • Alonso determined to bounce back
  • Cregan to leave Toyota at end of season
  • Belgian Grand Prix snap shot
  • Mercedes boss expects tight end to season
• 31 Aug.
  • Alonso pleased with test progress
  • Honda still looking for Monza set up
• 30 Aug.
  • Force India eyes Honda after test progress
  • BMW boss wants both cars in the points
  • Aero updates for McLaren at Spa
  • Heidfeld in determined mood for Spa
• 29 Aug.
  • Hamilton finishes test on top
  • Another accolade for Frank Williams
  • Hamilton relishing Spa challenge
  • Photos: Friday in Monza
  • Former champion Phil Hill passes away
  • Alonso happy with first day at wheel
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• 28 Aug.
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  • Photos: Thursday in Monza
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  • Renault happy with first day, despite position
  • Weather key to title - Whitmarsh
• 27 Aug.
  • Massa sets pace on first day at Monza

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