Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2012: Friday's Free Practice Report (MBAMGF1)

The first two practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix took place today at the Sakhir International Circuit.

• The team completed a total of 106 laps in the two practice sessions today - nearly two race distances
• The focus was on comparing and understanding tyre performance in much hotter conditions than in China last week
• Six Mercedes-Benz powered drivers finished in the top seven in P1; and four in the top six in the afternoon session

Nico Rosberg
“That was a good start to the weekend, and whilst it’s nice to be quickest today, we know that doesn’t count. The most important thing still is to improve our race pace. For the moment, it looks reasonable but we need to analyse where we are on high fuel levels compared to our competitors and draw our conclusions. The conditions are really tough out there, so the race will be quite demanding from the tyre perspective.”

Michael Schumacher
“We started well today, and our long runs are satisfying as well as our overall times. Unfortunately I could not complete my fast lap properly due to traffic. We will have to see what the outcome will be tomorrow and on Sunday as the tyres go away very quickly. You really have to stay within the limit of them, that´s going to be the main issue. Let´s see what we can make out of it but the start of the weekend has definitely not been too bad for us.”

Ross Brawn
“We had a very solid day of practice here today, completing some good work on both low and high fuel. We made some progress over the day with the set-up of the car, there were no issues and, all in all, it was a very reasonable day. We’ve done our homework and know what our priorities are, so that should enable us to work out what we want to tomorrow.”

Norbert Haug
“We had a pretty good first day learning quite a lot about the big challenge of how to use the tyres in the best possible way and make them last during the necessary number of laps in the race. There was more grip in the second session which helped. We still have room for improvement but I think our team has a good understanding of what will be required here on Sunday. Having said that, it is much too early to judge where we are compared to our competitors.”

~ Official photos and report courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2012: Friday's Free Practice Report (VMM)

LEWIS HAMILTON
- MP4-27A-03
- P1 programme: 11 laps, 1m33.572s, 1st
- P2 programme: 26 laps, 1m33.747s (+0.931s), 4th

“Looking after the tyres here is going to be a real challenge. The track surface is extremely hot, and the amount of energy that goes through the tyres under braking is incredible: the temperatures keep on rising until it feels just like driving on an ice-rink.

“Tyre degradation will be a big issue for everyone around here and the weekend will be all about who can look after the tyres the best. Wind direction also played a huge role today. On one lap, there’d be a headwind going into Turn Four, the next lap, it’d be a tailwind, then a crosswind. And that makes a big difference around the circuit.

“I think my fastest lap was set half an hour after Nico [Rosberg] set the fastest time of the session, and the wind was very different.

“In general, Mercedes looks quick. We’re there or thereabouts, but we’ll know more tomorrow. Overall, a tough day; a tough challenge, but we’re all in the same boat.”

JENSON BUTTON
- MP4-27A-04
 - P1 programme: 14 laps, 1m34.277s (+0.705s), 5th
 - P2 programme: 28 laps, 1m34.246s (+1.430s), 6th

“I had an interesting day trying to find a balance on both types of tyre compound. The car’s been acting very differently from how it’s been in the first three races. Perhaps we’ve gone too far with the balance and need to take a step back - there’ll be a bit of work needed tonight to get us into a better position.

“But I’m hopeful of resolving the issues before tomorrow. My times haven’t looked great all day - over a single lap, the Mercedes and the Red Bull both look quick. There’s a big margin to the front at the moment - but I don’t think it will be the same in the race.

“However, ignoring the times, I just don’t feel completely happy with the direction we’ve chosen. We’ve started talking about what we can do for tomorrow and there are already some positive comments about which direction to take.

“It’s going to be difficult for all of us out there - it will be all about what tyre we can get to work.”

MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“A tricky session here in Bahrain today - in this morning’s session, neither Jenson nor Lewis felt completely satisfied with the car’s balance, and we spent the afternoon pursuing a number of set-up options in order to establish a clearer direction for the remainder of the weekend.

“After P2, it’s clear that we’re still following that path, but, as always, we have plenty of data to sift through overnight. Jenson and Lewis have also provided the team with some excellent feedback, which dovetails nicely: it’s now the role of the engineers to assimilate that into a useful set-up direction for tomorrow.

“While the lap times don’t reflect it, our long-run pace looks reasonably promising, and I’m confident that we’ll establish a good baseline for tomorrow’s running.”

~ Official photos and report courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.