Balance problems for Force India
The Force India Formula One Team's preparations for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix got underway today at the Istanbul Park Circuit, as Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella participated in the two opening free practice sessions.
With the track seldom used for racing activities over the course of the year, both drivers concentrated their running on the second session when more rubber had been laid down. Adrian and Giancarlo completed just 22 laps each in the morning with the focus on evaluating the harder tyre compound available this event. Adrian's best lap, 1:29.864, was the 12th fastest and less than a second from the quickest of the session. Giancarlo recorded a 1:30.729, which put him 18th.
In the afternoon session, the focus switched to gathering more information on the balance and handling of the VJM02 with the new aero upgrades introduced this weekend, including a modified rear wing and rear suspension and amended front wheel spinners. Adrian was 17th and Giancarlo 18th fastest.
Adrian Sutil (car 20): "We had no problems on the car today and everything worked well, but the grip level was not good out on the circuit. It was a bit dusty, and the tyres were very difficult to come to terms with, it didn't seem like we had enough grip. We struggled to get in a reasonable lap time and we were always doing the same time regardless of which tyre compound we were on. We now have to see what we are going to do but it may be different when the circuit has a bit more rubber down."
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21): "The balance was not so good at the beginning of this morning's session as the car was a bit too pointy and nervous, but we went in the right direction and made some positive steps. Then this afternoon on the long run on harder tyres we were quicker but unfortunately I couldn't time a better time on the softer tyres as I had the coming together with Nakajima through turn 12."
Dominic Harlow, chief race engineer: "We were expecting quite a contrast today from Monaco as the circuits are very different, with Istanbul being much more fast and flowing circuit, and that is what we found. The grip was quite low and the balance of the cars a little knife edge and we've some work to do to improve that for tomorrow. Our tyre evaluation today collected the data that we need and it will be interesting to see how things evolve now as it warms up over the weekend. The VJM2 ran reliably and the team worked hard to maximise our track time today."
Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM02/01):
FP1: 12th 1:29.864 (22 laps)
FP2: 17th 1:30.081 (33 laps)
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM02/04):
FP1: 18th 1:30.729 (22 laps)
FP2: 18th 1:30.091 (38 laps)
