Japanese GP Friday Sauber notes

Jean Alesi:
"We began well enough this morning and the car behaved pretty well from the start. But we have not truly succeeded in finding good set-ups and it was increasingly difficult to work on the car at the end of the second session. So, we expect to change a certain number of things here tomorrow."

Nick Heidfeld:
"I feel satisfied with today's practice session, especially as it is the first time I have driven here on the Suzuka circuit. I really enjoy this track and it is just as nice as expected from what the other F1 drivers have said. It is difficult and challenging, but I have been able to complete a lot of laps which was the best thing I could have done to become familiar with all the different types of corners. We still have to improve the car on some points, but overall we have managed to find good a set-up in the end and I am really looking forward to tomorrow."

Alain Prost:
"The two drivers have been able to try a great number of different set-ups today to adapt the car to this particularly difficult circuit. We know this track well, where we performed competitively last year, and I think that we have the possibility to improve today's performances considerably for qualifying and the race."