Oil pressure problem for de la Rosa
Pedro de la Rosa joined the McLaren test team today to evaluate compounds and casings for Bridgestone's 2010-spec rubber. Next year's tyres will be different as they will no longer be pre-heated in blankets and must also sustain cars running with heavier fuel-loads due to the ban on refuelling.
While the team conducted some work using blankets, the prime runs were done without pre-heating, providing Bridgestone with useful data for next season. Despite the day’s session being punctuated by several red flags, the team completed 94 laps before an oil pressure sensor brought Pedro to a premature halt out on the circuit with just 10 minutes of the session remaining.
Pedro de la Rosa said: "Running without tyre blankets makes it harder to get heat into the tyre - but that’s the objective for next year and that’s why Bridgestone will supply the teams with different compounds. We managed a lot of laps today and the work with the tyres was very positive."
