French Grand Prix (Alonso wins)

[Kapel]

Thanks Ed,
(now can u secretly change my pole pick )

No worries

Now we are happy to change your pick effective next round. Anything else would mean automatic disqualification from the competition

[Ed]

Tiago Monteiro hit the kerb in the morning session damaging the rear suspension of his car

We had a busy day and not the best for me today. I went off on a kerb this morning and damaged the rear suspension and lost a set of tyres, which conditioned my afternoon programme. We tried different set-ups to improve the balance of the car and I hope tomorrow will be more a normal day.

[Ed]

McLaren have confirmed the engine failure on Kimi's car

Kimi Raikkonen

We were going through our planned programme in the morning session, but unfortunately during my first run early in the second practice I had an engine failure. That is obviously going to affect my weekend quite a bit as I will have to move ten places down the starting grid which will make things more challenging. However we will do the best we can and continue working as hard as possible.

Norbert Haug - Mercedes

Kimi had an engine failure in the second free practice when he was on his first flying lap. This engine specification ran various times reliably between 1200 and 1500 kms of testing on and off track. We will fly the engine back and investigate the reason for the failure immediately. It should not be a general problem with this engine specification after all our thorough testing programmes, but we will know more tomorrow

[Ed]

Christian Klien's off

In the first session, I completed ten laps to get a feel for the track and see how the balance of the car was. It felt much better than it did ahead of the last two races ? a lot more stable at the rear and easier to drive. I think that, definitely, the car is more competitive here than at previous races. In the second session, I was quite quick through the first timed section, the car had good balance and grip. But, I turned in at the chicane a bit too early, hit the kerb, lost the rear and went off.

Christian Horner - Red Bull Sporting Director

Unfortunately Christian made a mistake at the high-speed chicane (Turn 6 & 7) and had quite a heavy impact, which damaged some of the new aerodynamic update that has gone onto the cars this weekend. Christian?s car will be repaired overnight and he?ll be ready to go first thing in the morning. Generally our performance looks quite good, David?s times were very respectable, Tonio worked well through the tyre programme and I think we?re looking in reasonable shape.

[Ed]

Team and Driver quotes following Friday Practice now available here

[Ed]

The FIA Friday Press Conference is now available here with Colin Kolles, Jean Todt, Pierre Dupasquier, Hiroshi Yasukawa.
And yes it is mostly about tyres - Interesting read!

[Byron Forbes]

Quite hilarious how the Michelin rep would not particularly blame the new T13, nor would the Bridgestone rep absolutely deny there was any advantage from the Firestone/Indy500 link.

I think it is clear that it was an issue and I just cannot understand why Michelin seem as keen to steer clear of the issue as Bridgestone?????? Mad!

We need this question to the Bridgestone rep - "Did you get any data from Firestone that helped with the tyre design parameters for this years IMS race?"

[rah]

Quite hilarious how the Michelin rep would not particularly blame the new T13, nor would the Bridgestone rep absolutely deny there was any advantage from the Firestone/Indy500 link.

I think it is clear that it was an issue and I just cannot understand why Michelin seem as keen to steer clear of the issue as Bridgestone?????? Mad!

We need this question to the Bridgestone rep - "Did you get any data from Firestone that helped with the tyre design parameters for this years IMS race?"

Or... you could just drop the issue like everyone else and move on to France.

[Julian Mayo]

Quite hilarious how the Michelin rep would not particularly blame the new T13, nor would the Bridgestone rep absolutely deny there was any advantage from the Firestone/Indy500 link.

I think it is clear that it was an issue and I just cannot understand why Michelin seem as keen to steer clear of the issue as Bridgestone?????? Mad!

We need this question to the Bridgestone rep - "Did you get any data from Firestone that helped with the tyre design parameters for this years IMS race?"

Or... you could just drop the issue like everyone else and move on to France.

How was Manly, RAH ?

[Kapel]

Quite hilarious how the Michelin rep would not particularly blame the new T13, nor would the Bridgestone rep absolutely deny there was any advantage from the Firestone/Indy500 link.

I think it is clear that it was an issue and I just cannot understand why Michelin seem as keen to steer clear of the issue as Bridgestone?????? Mad!

We need this question to the Bridgestone rep - "Did you get any data from Firestone that helped with the tyre design parameters for this years IMS race?"

U still on this only???
R u stuck?? Need a push to France??

[Julian Mayo]

[Ed]

1st Saturday Practice session underway. Air temperature is 18 degrees while Track temperature is 19

Friesacher is the first out followed by Albers

[Ed]

Both Minardis pit while Trulli and Fisichella go out for there installation lap

[Ed]

Montoya, Raikkonen and Alonso go out as Fisichella and Trulli return to the pits.

Raikkonen is running a new engine this morning

[Ed]

More drivers go out for their installation laps.

Trulli goes back out