HONDA F1

Grand Prix of Turkey, Istanbul Park

Result of free training 1

		coureur driver	team team	tijd time	verschil difference	# #
1.		F. Massa	Ferrari	1:27.232		16
2.		H. Kovalainen	McLaren	1:27.456	+0.224 +0,224	17
3.		L. Hamilton	McLaren	1:27.752	+0.520 +0,520	15
4.		F. Alonso	Renault	1:28.284	+1.052 +1,052	16
5.		J. Button	Honda	1:28.919	+1.687 +1,687	12
6.		K. Nakajima	Williams	1:29.002	+1.770 +1,770	19
7.		N. Heidfeld	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:29.024	+1.792 +1,792	21
8.		R. Barrichello	Honda	1:29.068	+1.836 +1,836	11
9.		N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr.	Renault	1:29.082	+1.850 +1,850	23
10.		T. Glock	Toyota	1:29.103	+1.871 +1,871	19
11.		J. Trulli	Toyota	1:29.329	+2.097 +2,097	24
12.		R. Kubica	BMW Sauber BMW Sauber	1:29.330	+2.098 +2,098	7
13.		N. Rosberg	Williams	1:29.367	+2.135 +2,135	20
14.		A. Sutil	Force India Force India	1:29.756	+2.524 +2,524	23
15.		G. Fisichella	Force India Force India	1:29.811	+2.579 +2,579	23
16.		M. Webber	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:30.088	+2.856 +2,856	21
17.		D. Coulthard	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing	1:30.340	+3.108 +3,108	13
18.		S. Bourdais	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:30.388	+3.156 +3,156	19
19.		S. Vettel	Toro Rosso Toro Rosso	1:30.426	+3.194 +3,194	21
20.		K. Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:30.732	+3.500 +3,500	3

Cold weather and light rain greet the Honda Racing F1 Team on the opening day of practice at Istanbul Park.

Practice for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix kicked off under cloudy skies at Istanbul Park today. The air and track temperatures peaked at just 14 and 20 degrees respectively, making today’s running the coldest at a grand prix so far this year.

The Honda Racing F1 Team worked through a detailed set-up programme with both of its RA108s, honing the car’s aerodynamic package to the demands of the 5.338km (3.317-mile) track. They ran reliably throughout the two 1.5-hour sessions, providing Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello with a good baseline from which to progress throughout the remainder of the race weekend.

In session one, the cars finished comfortably inside the top 10. Jenson completed 12 laps en route to the fifth fastest time, while Rubens did 11 laps to end the session 0.1s slower than his team-mate in eighth place.

Some light rain over lunchtime resulted in damp conditions at the start of session two, but a dry line quickly appeared and the drivers were able to continue their preparations for qualifying and the race. Jenson completed 28 laps in this session and his best time of 1:28.826s placed him 11th overall, while Rubens finished 15th on the timesheets after doing 22 laps, with a best of 1:29.024s.

The drivers had opposite reports on how today’s sessions went, with Jenson saying Practice 2 was an improvement over Practice 1, and vice versa.

“We made a lot of changes to the car after this morning when I was struggling with a lack of grip on initial turn in which you really need around here,” said the Brit. “This afternoon was much better right from the start of the session. We tried a lot of different things on the set-up and I’m confident that we know which direction to take for the rest of the weekend.”

Rubens’ day went slightly differently: “The car was nicely balanced in the morning and we were pleased with our progress. However, we made a mechanical change over lunch which changed the balance. It was too big a change to go back in the time available so we have some work to do overnight to understand what has changed. We should be able to get the car back to how it felt this morning, then I believe we have a good chance of getting through to Q3 tomorrow.”

Rubens is hoping to mark his record-breaking 257th Grand Prix with a good result, but how big a deal is it for the veteran? “Well most importantly, when I’m in the car, it’s a normal weekend for me. It’s fantastic to have the celebrations here, with all my family and the team, but on the track nothing changes. When I began my career back in 1993, I never thought that I would break this record, but now it really means a great deal to me.”

The Honda Racing F1 Team’s drivers and engineers will now analyse the data gathered today in their efforts to improve further the set-ups of the RA108s, prior to tomorrow’s qualifying session.

Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson are still only just out of work after their employer decided to stop Super Aguri, the two are already associated with a new boss. And for these two gentlemen is a familiar environment. Sato and Davidson were in view for a return to Honda.

The Japanese car manufacturer had especially for Sato Super Aguri was set up, but the accounts were ultimately too high. Sato for the Japanese market, however, essential for Honda and the company would find a way to the Japanese back into service. The 31-year-old driver, according to the rumours already at the next race in Monaco, the place of Rubens Barrichello role.

But not only Sato's return to Honda, his Super Aguri-ally Anthony Davidson was on the old nest can. The Englishman was in the past many years worked as a test driver for the Japanese team. As a reward if he were in 2007 go racing for Super Aguri. Honda already has a solid Alexander Wurz and test driver Luca Filippi and Mike Conway two young part-testers, but would be willing to Davidson retrieval.

Go Honda!!
Jenson and Rubens in the top eight.
Very close between the two drivers. 1 tenth of a second i think.

Looking like a promising weekend and Rubens may score his first points in his 257th GP.

Honda Racing F1's Jenson Button attended the Friday Five press conference today, talking about safety in the sport, Canadian restaurants, and getting involved in an odd attempt at a word association game. He also neatly sidestepped the inevitable question regarding Super Aguri.

Honda Racing F1's test and reserve driver, Alexander Wurz, will be absent from the Istanbul paddock this weekend. Instead of standing by for Honda, he'll be donning a Peugeot Sport race suit and driving the fearsome 908 HDi FAP at the 1,000km de Spa-Francorchamps.

As Rubens Barrichello prepares to become the most experienced Formula One driver in history, entering his 257th race on Sunday at the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul, the outgoing record holder, Riccardo Patrese, admits that he'd like to have kept hold of the record.

Rubens Barrichello drive the Grand Prix of Turkey with a special livery in honor of his record Grand Prix starts. The Brazilian starts Sunday 257ste to his Formula 1 race and that number will be expanded on his Honda back and his helmet.