NEWS FROM THE TEAMS (Friday 14 June 2002)
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO : MUGELLO AND JEREZ - (1st-86 points)
Luca Badoer started the Mugello test work by covering 390km in the Ferrari F2002 on Tuesday, setting up the car for Nurburgring and testing new Bridgestone tyres. He managed a 1m 23.980s after which Michael Schumacher took over on Wednesday, the world champion completing a long run over 78 laps and posting a 1m 220.943s - shattering his own record of 1m 21.690s set on April 20, using the qualifying engine used in Canada. On Thursday Schumacher tried new aerodynamic components and struggled with a gearbox problem. He was generally happy with these tests which were mainly devoted to aerodynamics, electronics and tyres. Meanwhile on Wednesday Luciano Burti again carried out tyre tests in the old Ferrari F2001, this time at Jerez, working on hot weather constructions and compounds. He covered 94 laps for a 1m 21.610s best. The three cars for the Nurburgring will do their shakedown early next week.
BMW WILLIAMSF1 TEAM : GENE AT JEREZ - (2nd-54 points)
Marc Gene began the BMW WilliamsF1 test programme at Jerez on Tuesday where blistering track temperatures which reached 58-deg(C) enabled the team to have a productive day hot weather testing in preparation for the next few races on the calendar. Gene completed 61 laps for a 1m23.540s best. On Wednesday the team ran tyre tests during the morning and then the FW24 had a scheduled engine change before completing a race run in the afternoon, making a total of 108 laps on the day for a best time of 1m 21.448s.
WEST McLAREN MERCEDES : TESTING AT JEREZ - (3rd-33 points)
The McLaren-Mercedes squad undertook a routine test programme at Jerez this week with engine and tyre development programmes occupying Darren Turner on Tuesday. Kimi Raikkonen and Alexander Wurz took over on Wednesday with Raikkonen posting fastest time on 1m 20.382s. The team has confirmed that it is developing a new rear suspension and gearbox package, but is not yet certain at which race it will make its debut on the MP4/17. "It's
got to be quicker than what we've got already before we race it," said McLaren MD Martin Whitmarsh. Raikkonen was also fastest on Thursday on 1m 19.171s while David Coulthard did a 1m20.565s.MILD SEVEN RENAULT F1 TEAM : ALONSO STARTS IN JEREZ - (4th-12 points)
Fernando Alonso started the Renault F1 team's first day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain on Tuesday, establishing a baseline set-up for the R202 before beginning a programme which included development of the team's new traction control system and the testing of different front suspension geometries. Alonso managed a 1m 23.184s, second fastest time of the day. On Wednesday Jarno Trulli joined Alonso, and the Italian also worked on basic set-up for the Nurburgring and testing of new engine evolutions, although his running was curtailed prematurely by engine problems at the end of the day. Alonso did a Michelin tyre programme as well as brake testing, the Spaniard managing a 1m21.259s, 0.1sec faster than his colleague. On Thursday Trulli did a 1m 20.550s and Alonso a 1m20.849s and these two drivers will complete the test today (Friday).
SAUBER PETRONAS : TESTING IN MUGELLO - (5TH-8 points)
Sauber prepared for the European Grand Prix with a test at Mugello with one car on hand and Nick Heidfeld driving for the first two days until Thursday evening after which Felipe Massa was scheduled to take over on Friday. On the first day Heidfeld did a 69 lap race simulation. "We set
up the car mechanically and aerodynamically for the Nurburgring and did some testing for Bridgestone," he explained. On Thursday Heidfeld shared the circuit with Michael Schumacher and managed a 1m24.884s. "After he experience we had at the (wet) Silverstone tests recently it has been good to have a dry test with stable conditions," he said. Meanwhile back in the factory the engineers from Magneti Marello tried to investigate the reason for the apparent failure of the pit lane speed limiter on three occasions in Montreal. The strange thing was that it did not happen on the way to the pits, but always when accelerating out the limiter allowed the speed to increase to 83kph. Technical Director Willy Rampf commented; "There must have been a software problem."DHL JORDAN HONDA : ELVINGTON AERO TEST - (6th-6 points)
German driver Marcel Lasee is scheduled to undertake straight line aerodynamic tests on the Elvington aerodrome, near York, later this week as part of the Jordan-Honda EJ12 development programme. The former RAF base, which sports a 3km runway, has proved ideal for aero testing in the past and also boasts a short circuit. Meanwhile the Silverstone factory is rebuilding the Montreal race cars in preparation for the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
JAGUAR RACING : DE LA ROSA STARTS PROGRAMME - (7th-3 points)
Pedro de la Rosa started the Jaguar team's test programme at Jerez on Wednesday, setting third fastest time on 1m20.910s. The team is concentrating on tyre development and engine testing in preparation for the European Grand Prix and had no new aerodynamic components on the car as yet. De la Rosa admitted that he was furious over the way in which Allan McNish had put him into the wall during the Canadian Grand Prix. "He squeezed me into the wall at
300kph," said Jaguar driver. "I don't know if he didn't see me or if he was dreaming. I went on the grass, hit the wall, hit him and went into the pits." De la Rosa managed a 1m 21.852s on Thursday.KL MINARDI ASIATECH: NO TESTING - (8th-2 points)
The Minardi team will not be testing this week. Instead they are preparing the cars for the Nurburgring which are due to depart from Faenza on Sunday evening.
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING : FIRST TIME AT JEREZ - (9th-2 points)
The Toyota F1 team had its first test outing at Jerez starting on Wednesday with Mika Salo completing 48 laps for a best time of am 20.81s. "This is the first time we have tested here so
some time was spent during the session on mechanical car set-up to find a good balance," said the Finn. "We also worked on hydraulic control systems and traction control as well as some other new parts, but had a few problems and did not get much running done." On Thursday Salo completed mainly tyre testing and mechanical set-up, managing a best time of 1m19.78s. "The car handled much better than yesterday but there is still room for improvement," he said. Test driver Ryan Briscoe is scheduled to take over the car for the final day of testing today (Friday).ORANGE ARROWS : AERO TESTS AT KEMBLE - (10th-2 points)
The Orange Arrow team has not carried out any circuit testing this week, but an A23 is scheduled to be out today (Friday) for aerodynamic straight line tests at the RAF Kemble aerodrome which is quite close to the Arrows base at Leafield. Meanwhile the team is working flat out at base preparing the three cars for the European Grand Prix.
LUCKY STRIKE BAR HONDA : THREE DAYS AT JEREZ - (11th-0 points)
Olivier Panis, Anthony Davidson and Patrick Lemarie have been testing this week for the BARHonda squad at Jerez. Davidson and Lemarie started the programme on Wednesday, Patrick carrying out the shakedown of the Honda development car in preparation for a comprehensive programme of testing over the next two days. He managed 56 laps for a best of 1m23.176s. Davidson's start to the day was delayed by a wait for the arrival of some Nurburgring-spec components and he did not begin lapping until the afternoon, managing a 1m22.635s after 22 laps. On Thursday Panis took over from Davidson and ran through a programme of Bridgestone tyre testing as well as evaluating the aero package for the next race. He lost time briefly with an hydraulic problem and later in the day posted third fastest time overall. Meanwhile Lemarie managed another 77 laps concentrating on data collection. Panis commented; "I have had a
good one day test today and, apart from a minor problem, it's been quite encouraging. My last run showed that we have been able to improve during the first two days of the test. My race finish in Canada has given me a boost and I'm looking forward to the European Grand Prix, when I hope I can not only finish the race but get closer to some points."