Malaysian GP Friday Prost notes

OLIVIER PANIS "I am very happy with the discovery of this new circuit. It is really nice and above all it is safe apart from the corner where I went off where the run-off area is not big enough ! Overall, I am satisfied with this first day of practice even if I have had an incredible problem - the two front brake discs broke under braking.

The mechanics did a great job to get me out again at the end of the session, as I had damaged the car severely. I lost some time and that is a pity when you don't know the circuit, but I am confident, as from my opening laps I felt good."

JARNO TRULLI "I found this new Sepang circuit well-designed, very big, different to other tracks, very technical, even if we still haven't found good grip because of the dusty surface. Only one negative point : the run-off areas are not sufficiently large. We have worked well to find a good balance, but we still haven't had the time to try all the set-ups."

ALAIN PROST "Olivier's 'off' was something exceptionally rare. I have never seen that before in Formula One : the two front brake discs breaking simultaneously. This incident penalised both of our drivers because we asked Jarno to come in straightaway to check his car. It was important to control what happened ; to analyse and to look for the cause of the problem. We still have some things to do to be certain about this. On a circuit that the drivers did not know, it was important to do a lot of laps and we shall have to make up for this tomorrow morning. This incident aside, the first day has been quite positive, the drivers like the circuit and the weather could do anything."