OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Melbourne, Australia, Mar 27, 2009
2009 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX � FREE PRACTICE ANALYSIS
Today�s run programme targeted the following objectives: aero and mechanical set-up work, prime and option tyre evaluation, tyre degradation analysis over a long stint.
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
P1 programme
�Although the track was very green and slippery, the car felt good from the start of the session,� said Heikki. �Our balance was good, particularly in the high-speed corners, and KERS deployed well, working smoothly throughout both sessions.�
Heikki quickly felt comfortable with the car and the operating window of the tyres, setting a 1m27.982s best � which placed him near the top of the P1 timesheets. He followed it up with a six-lap run (1m27.495s) as the track continued to evolve.
P2 programme
Focus shifted from set-up work to tyre evaluation over longer runs. Heikki completed four runs (four laps/1m28.148s; three laps/1m28.757s (cut short by flat-spotting a tyre at Turn Two); 11 laps/1m28.064s (the first on options); nine laps/1m27.802s).
The time differential between the two compounds didn�t appear to be too marked � and both held up well over the course of a stint.
�A reasonable first day � even if the times don�t properly reflect that,� Heikki said, after finishing 17th on a 1m27.802s. �We saw some decent pace and made some progress which was pleasing for the new guys on my car this year.�
LEWIS HAMILTON
P1 programme
Lewis started with a five-lap run (best time 1m30.105s) to form a baseline for the day�s programme. A later four-lap run saw Lewis visibly working his tyres on his first flying lap, yielded a 1m29.042s. A two-lap, final run of the session produced a best of 1m31.747s.
�The first session didn�t prove too productive for us,� said Lewis. �We worked hard to get the prime tyres to operate effectively, but the track conditions and our set-up made it difficult to get them to work, and it didn�t give me the confidence to push hard.�
P2 programme
Some set-up work between the sessions made Lewis more comfortable. He completed runs of six laps (1m27.958s best), seven laps (1m28.431s), seven laps (1m27.813s) and a shorter, three-lap stint (1m29.438s) to evaluate set-up changes.
�The changes we made after P1 made the car feel much better,� said Lewis. �We�re still working to refine the balance � and we have a number of issues still to address � but we are heading in the right direction.�
While the focus of the run programme precluded the setting of low-fuel fast laps, MP4-24�s speed over a long run looks better than testing indicated, although it is too early to accurately predict overall. Lewis finished the day with a 1m27.813s best, 18th fastest.
Comments
MARTIN WHITMARSH
�We arrived in Australia fully aware that we�d be facing a tough start to the season. But we adhered to a disciplined programme today, focusing on tyre durability work, and weren�t swayed by a desire to post flattering times. Equally, we�re now focusing on implementing the performance steps we�ve planned for the next few races. Overall, then, we�ve made good progress recently but are well aware that we�ve still got a lot of work to do.�
NORBERT HAUG
�After the winter tests, we knew that we would have a difficult start into the season. While our car has improved since the Barcelona test, we still have a lot of work to do.�
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