Formula One news

Ferrari ready for more quick times

The Ferrari team is confident that its good pace can be retained on Saturday having been fastest in yesterday's second session in Malaysia. The red cars topped the timesheets with Kimi Räikkönen, having set a fastest lap of 1.35.707, heading Felipe Massa by just over a tenth of a second.

Kimi Räikkönen was pleased to see his name back at the top of the list

"The three hours of Friday free practice seemed to offer a different view of the situation to what we saw in Australia, which indeed was predictable given the characteristics of the two circuits," explained team principal Stefano Domenicali. "Obviously it's much too early to say what is our level of performance is when compared to the other teams, but it is clear that it's very finely balanced, given that the first fifteen cars in the second session were all covered by less than a second. Reliability remains the main priority, and we had a technical problem which, if it had happened in the race, would have led to a retirement. Having said that, we must remain focused and calm, while allowing ourselves to look forward to the rest of the weekend by being aware that we will have to fight hard to bring home a good result."

The technical error mentioned by Domenicali involved Räikkönen's car, which struggled back to the pit lane with smoke rising from the cockpit. "We experienced a short circuit in the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) fitted to Kimi's car," team manager Luca Baldisserri confirmed. "It cost us a bit of time, but it didn't compromise the completion of today's programme. The main aim was to understand how the two types of Bridgestone tyre perform, both over a single first lap and a longer distance. From what we have seen today, the situation seems very different to what we experienced in Melbourne, especially when it comes to the consistency of performance from the softer compound. From this point of view, it's been a good day, but we have to work very carefully on every detail when it comes to the reliability of the car."

more news

• 25 Nov.
  • 'Fantastic opportunity' - Di Resta on Force India test
  • Recap: N.Technology court bid fails
  • BMW testers excited about Jerez
  • Brawn disappointed with Button drives, ponders Lauda
  • Piquet to drive in Massa kart race
  • Brawn aero chief wins award
  • Gillett disappointed with government position
  • Mercedes hopes to confirm line-up by Christmas
• 24 Nov.
  • Briatore verdict expected in January
  • Donington still hopeful over F1 race
  • Montreal race confirmation imminent
  • Massa names drivers for karting event
  • Campos car passes FIA safety tests
  • Strong test could seal drive, says Mallya
  • Force India to test di Resta and Hildebrand
  • Courts to hear Briatore case
  • Silverstone GP deal forthcoming
• 23 Nov.
  • GPUpdate TV: Sam Michael - building on 2009
  • Theissen waiting on entry decision
  • Mercedes delighted with Rosberg confirmation
  • Confirmed: Rosberg to Mercedes for 2010
  • Manor hoping to run in late January
  • Mercedes poised to announce first driver
  • Kobayashi: I expected to be re-signed
  • Nakajima future in Toyota's hands
  • Klien still hoping for 2010 seat
  • McLaren line-up will work, says Ecclestone
  • López: USF1 deal coming next week
• 22 Nov.
  • Photos: 2009 Toyota Motor Sports Festival
  • Vettel surprised by Button team switch
• 21 Nov.
  • Mercedes: No Schumacher drive with us
  • López close to USF1 deal
  • Options open for Bourdais
• 20 Nov.
  • FIA was using new teams, says Lola
  • Rossi and Newey to contest endurance race
  • Wolff: Worth of privateers on the up
  • Equity sale for 'private motives' - Williams
  • USF1 considering 12 drivers
  • Photos: SKUSA karting event, Las Vegas
  • Buemi and Schumacher to kart in Las Vegas

Homepage