Formula One news

Ferrari reasonably positive

Over the two free practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix, the two F2008 of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa completed around one hundred laps. The day's technical programme, as usual for a Friday, centred on finding the best set up on the car and a comparison of the two types of tyre brought to the track by Bridgestone. Despite losing a bit of time in the morning session because of a misunderstanding between the pit wall and the garage left Kimi stranded on the track with no fuel, the programme was completed with almost no technical problems.

"The start of this weekend is reasonably positive," commented Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali. "Kimi and Felipe reckoned they were happy with the way the cars went, both over a single lap and on a longer run, with both types of tyre. From what we have seen and considering all the usual Friday unknown quantities, I think we will be competitive in qualifying and in the race."

Felipe Massa commented: "I am very happy with these two sessions. The car proved to be very quick and consistent on both types of tyre. It's a shame I was unable to get the most out of the second set of soft tyres, when I found myself behind Hamilton who was going slowly. We are working in the right direction for qualifying and the race."

Kimi Raikkonen said about his free practice sessions: "This morning I lost time because of a communication problem within the team, but we made up for it in the second session. The car seems to be going well and I am pleased with the work we have done. I worked mainly on the harder tyres, but I think that even with the softs, from what we have seen, we can be competitive. It is always difficult to say where we are compared to our rivals, but I think we can face the rest of the weekend with confidence."

more news

• 09 Jul.
  • Photos: Wednesday in Hockenheim
  • Reliable start for Renault
• 08 Jul.
  • Toyota happy with first day
  • Productive day for Force India
  • Hamilton fastest at Hockenheim
  • Coulthard prefers Vettel as his successor
  • McLaren introduces shark fin
  • Team begin three-day test at Hockenheim
  • Photos: Tuesday in Hockenheim
  • Di Montezemolo: No more mistakes!
• 07 Jul.
  • Hockenheim expects to be sold out
  • Ecclestone: Donington is Britain's last chance
  • Hamilton to join DTM event at Brands Hatch
  • Whitmarsh impressed by Hamilton's cool performance
  • Brawn: Rubens could have finished second
  • Ferrari: A race to forget as quickly as possible
• 06 Jul.
  • Raikkonen: We could have won
  • Disappointing result for Piquet
  • Dennis: Lewis mastered the treacherous conditions
  • Kovalainen faced difficult race
  • Hamilton's toughest and best race
  • Mixed feelings at BMW Sauber
  • Hamilton dominates home Grand Prix
  • Photos: Sunday at Silverstone
  • Donington will be renovated in time for British Grand Prix
  • Dennis: Kovalainen's pole well deserved
  • Button prays for rain
  • Horner enjoys team's first front row
• 05 Jul.
  • Coulthard disappointed with eleventh
  • Fisichella missed out on Q2
  • Difficult qualifying session for Williams
  • Webber surprised to be in front row
  • Toyota missed out on top ten
  • Maiden pole position for Kovalainen
  • Live: British Grand Prix 1st free practice
  • Frank Williams glad British Grand Prix is saved
  • Alonso fastest at drying track
  • Photos: Saturday at Silverstone
• 04 Jul.
  • Alonso's engine problem didn't surprise the team
  • Photos: Friday at Silverstone

Homepage