Formula One news

Toyota happy with practice pace

Jarno Trulli finished Friday practice seventh overall while Toyota team mate Timo Glock enjoyed a competitive day ending up in twelfth.

"We have come to Turkey at a different time of year so temperatures are unlike what we have faced in the past," said Trulli. "But that was a good day despite the mixed track conditions - dusty in the morning then rain in the afternoon. We made it through our programme of tyre and set-up work and we didn't have any problems. The car seems okay so far but there is still work to do in order to improve the handling. Now we have to work hard over the next two days to maintain our strong start to the season with a successful race."

Timo Glock commented, "Both practice sessions went pretty well and the car felt good throughout the day. I also had a strong long run with competitive lap times. Graining and understeer were challenges today. On a late run I went off the track and couldn't stop the car from hitting the kerb and damaging the front wing. It was my mistake and I missed the last five minutes but it was nevertheless a good first day. I've had some successful races here in GP2 but it's difficult to overtake so qualifying is important this weekend. Our target has to be to get into the top ten tomorrow, as I did in the first two races this year."

Chief engineer Dieter Gass added, "Even though the weather was changeable we still made it through our programme and we collected the information that we wanted. So it was a positive day and we are in slightly better shape than we were in Barcelona. The cold weather doesn't seem to have changed too much about the circuit. In the morning the track was cleaned at the last minute and there were damp spots but it was not a problem for us. We planned to go out late anyway because we know that the circuit's dirty here at the start. That also means the tyres are difficult to evaluate because the track evolves through the sessions. So we still have to investigate that and make our decision for tomorrow. Now I hope we can build on today and come back to the performance level we showed at the beginning of the season."

Vote or add to:

more news

• 13 May
  • Q&A with Timo Glock
  • First Singapore Grand Prix almost sold out
  • BMW boss confident for Monaco
  • Ferrari boss wary of rivals
• 12 May
  • Fisichella and Nakajima at odds over crash
  • McLaren had pace to win - Dennis
• 11 May
  • Ferrari celebrates fourth win
  • McLaren savours second place
  • Pointless day for Honda
  • Toro Rosso hoped for more
  • Disappointing day for Toyota
  • Tough day for Force India
  • Rosberg takes another point for Williams
  • Fourth consecutive points finish for Webber
  • Alonso scores three points for Renault
  • BMW Sauber continue strong performance
  • Three stops prevented tyre problems for Hamilton
  • Hamilton happy, explains three-stop plan
  • Massa delighted with third Turkish win
  • Massa storms to third Turkish win
  • Webber hopes to extend contract at Red Bull Racing
  • Barrichello celebrates 257th Grand Prix
  • Photos: Sunday at Istanbul Park
  • McLaren is closer to Ferrari - Kovalainen
  • Massa - warming tyres for start will be critical
• 10 May
  • BMW expected more from qualifying
  • Ferrari happy with first and fourth
  • Mixed qualifying result for Renault
  • McLaren upbeat with improved pace
  • Honda misses out on top ten
  • Vettel shines for Toro Rosso
  • Williams duo misses out on top ten
  • Disappointing qualifying for Force India
  • Red Bulls happily in top ten
  • Toyota rues 'shaky' qualifying
  • Hamilton not happy with third
  • Kovalainen comes back quicker
  • Massa savours pole, expects tough race
  • Massa flies to Turkish pole
  • Webber leads final practice in Istanbul

Homepage