Ferrari Barcelona test notes 2009-03-10

F60 fast but still not 100% reliable

Barcelona, 10th March 2009 - Today had two faces for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. It was Kimi Raikkonen's last day of testing before his departure for the Australian GP and today, after testing different setups for his F60, he had a complete race weekend simulation on his agenda, with three qualifying sessions and the race. Unfortunately the programme could not be completed, because the KERS started loosing cooling liquid after around ten laps into the race simulation. Until this moment Kimi had driven 55 laps, the fastest in a time of 1.20.314, the best performance in this test session.

"We had a problem with the KERS' cooling system and we preferred to stop and not risk greater damage," Kimi said in front of the press at the circuit. "Until then everything went really well. I think that once we've resolved these small problems with the reliability, we can say that we've got a very good package available. Sure, I would have liked to make a second race simulation, after the one we've done at Bahrain in February, but it's better that some things happen during the tests and not at a GP."

There were many questions as far as the possible competitors of the Scuderia this year are concerned after what the journalists could see during the tests. Kimi kept his calm as usual, saying "Honestly, I've no idea who could be seen as the favourite. There was a great equilibrium until now between the teams and I think that we have to wait until Melbourne to know more. From our point of view I can say that I'm satisfied with what we've done at the test sessions during the winter. The car behaves very well and that's what's most important; we've checked that on different circuits. Sure, we did have some minor problem with the reliability, but nothing we can't resolve in the Works; and then the weather sometimes didn't work out for us and we wanted to drive a couple of miles more. But it doesn't make any sense looking back. I can't wait for the races to start. You know that I like the races best in Formula 1."

Also today Michael Schumacher was at the Scuderia box; the former World Champion wants to follow the preparations for Melbourne at close quarters. In the afternoon Felipe Massa arrived in Barcelona. He will sit behind the wheel of the F60 for the last two days of testing.

-credit: ferrari