Australian GP: Williams Friday report

Objectives P1
Validation of new aero components
Fuel consumption checks

Objectives P2
Set-up work
Tyre evaluations

Sam Michael, Technical Director

"Today our programme involved working on mechanical set-up changes and testing revised aero parts for the FW32. We managed to evaluate most of the parts, but our schedule in session two was reduced by the wet weather. From the limited data we collected on the option tyre, it looks like it will be a stable tyre during the race."

Rubens Barrichello

Runs P1:
Run 1: New Prime (1 lap, install)
Run 2: Used Prime (2 laps, baseline, red flag)
Run 3: Used Prime (6 laps, baseline)
Run 4: Used Prime (5 laps, aero set-up)
Run 5: Used Prime (6 laps, mechanical set-up)

Runs P2:
Run 1: New Prime (12 laps, tyre evaluations)
Run 2: New Option (13 laps, tyre evaluations)

"The rain came in P2, it affected everyone. The team did a really good job sending me out at the right times when the track was dry so we collected as much information as we could considering the conditions. There is still quite a lot of work to be done in order to get us through to Q3 tomorrow."

Nico Hulkenberg

Runs P1:
Run 1: New Prime (1 lap, install)
Run 2: Used Prime (4 laps, baseline, red flag)
Run 3: Used Prime (7 laps, mechanical set-up, red flag)
Run 4: Used Prime (13 laps, mechanical set-up)

Runs P2:
Run 1: New Option (11 laps, tyre evaluations)
Run 2: New Intermediate (3 laps, wet tyre test)
Run 3: New Prime (11 laps, tyre evaluations)

"Albert Park is quite a cool track; I really enjoyed it out there. It's very bumpy, but definitely good fun. Running in the second session was interrupted by the weather so we didn't get as much time as we wanted, but I feel familiar with the track now and comfortable with the car."

-source: williams