Japanese GP: Spyker MF1 Friday practice notes

Comments from the Spyker MF1 Team after Friday practices for the Japanese Grand Prix Tiago Monteiro: "It has been a mixed day with wet conditions this morning when we had some technical issues. We knew it was going to dry out this afternoon so ...

Comments from the Spyker MF1 Team after Friday practices for the Japanese Grand Prix

Tiago Monteiro:

"It has been a mixed day with wet conditions this morning when we had some technical issues. We knew it was going to dry out this afternoon so we managed to get a couple of laps completed on dry tyres. We left it a bit late and needed longer on track to really show what we are capable of so the times look worse than they are. I have no worries or problems waiting for tomorrow."

Christijan Albers:

"I think the short outing everybody had on slicks today was good, it means nobody really knows what they have got. I was quite satisfied in the end with what we achieved with dry tyres. It was a shame that it was raining most of the day but we have to see what we get tomorrow. I am happy and hopefully tomorrow we will find some more time on a dry track."

Adrian Sutil:

"It has been wet for most of the day so we have been trying to find the precise time when it is best to change tyres. In the end I found the balance getting better and better through wing and down-force changes but unfortunately just when I was about to go on to dry tyres we encountered an engine problem. It's disappointing as I know I was able to achieve more today and I was really beginning to feel the track."

Dominic Harlow (Head of race and test engineering):

"Another two predominantly wet sessions today. After China we felt we had quite a lot of work to do to improve the performance of our car in the wet and we learnt a lot more today. It was good to get a run on dry tyres at the end of the second session. We are disappointed for Adrian Sutil as the engine problem he encountered meant he couldn't complete his full programme by running dry tyres. However he again showed his talent by running very competitively in both wet and drying conditions".

Colin Kolles (Team Principal):

Quote: "The weather conditions gave us a lot to think about today with lots of water and rain this morning and some sunshine by the end of the second session. This means that we were able to consider our tyre strategy for the race and I am happy with what the team achieved. It would have been interesting to see what Adrian Sutil could have achieved on dry tyres on a dry track. I think he had a fast lap in him today that was lost with the engine and the weather."

Tiago Monteiro
Chassis: M16-03
First session: No time, 4 laps
Second session: 23rd, 1:37.702, +3.365, 9 laps

Christijan Albers
Chassis: M16-02
First session: 7th, 1:47.838, +2.489, 6 laps
Second session: 16th, 1.36.180, +1.843, 4 laps

Adrian Sutil
Chassis: M16-01
First session: 5th, 1:47.773, +2.424, 21 laps
Second session: 29th, 1:43.914, +9.577, 14 laps