Ferrari & Jordan top testing 2003-04-24

Ferrari and Jordan took the honours at the top of the test times today at Mugello and Silverstone respectively. On the last of a three-day test at Mugello, Rubens Barrichello set a best of 1:21.188 ahead of tester Luca Badoer.

Barrichello worked on set up and tyres while Badoer ran a race distance. Both drivers used an F2003-GA chassis. Badoer will continue at Fiorano tomorrow with Felipe Massa.

Kimi Raikkonen was third quickest, team tester Pedro de la Rosa fourth, mainly working on tyres on the final day of McLaren's test. Jacques Villeneuve was fifth for BAR, despite suffering an engine failure, and team-mate Jenson Button was eighth quickest.

Toyota's Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta were sixth and seventh respectively, both working on set up for the Spanish Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld was the sole Sauber on track, working on Bridgestone tyres.

Antonio Pizzonia was bottom of the times, the Jaguar driver having technical problems that restricted his track time considerably: "We had an aero and suspension programme scheduled for today but I couldn't do anything," said a frustrated Pizzonia. "I hope that tomorrow we get a chance to change that."

At Silverstone, Giancarlo Fisichella was top of the times with a 1:22.397, followed by team-mate Ralph Firman. Poor weather conditions, including rain and fog, hampered testing but Jordan used the time for tyre evaluation.

Renault's tester Allan McNish was third fastest and worked on engine mapping and suspension initially, then tyres when the bad weather closed in. Final man of the four on track was Williams test driver Marc Gene, who completed the team's three-day programme.

"Although we progressed through the test program at Silverstone this week it was hampered by Juan-Pablo's crash yesterday afternoon and by bad weather today," said Williams' chief operations engineer Sam Michael.

"However, we have still learnt a great deal and tested some new parts ready for the Spanish Grand Prix next week. Marc finished off the test today by verifying some wet and dry tyre choices for Michelin."