Malaysian GP Friday Williams notes

Weather: Overcast, 28 degrees average , humidity 74% The Winfield WilliamsF1 drivers Alex Zanardi and Ralf Schumacher were 20th and 18th in the first free practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Like every other driver, both Alex and Ralf mostly spent today's session studying the track on which they were running for the very first time. In the morning session, a hydraulic problem prevented Ralf from completing more than six laps.

Ralf Schumacher

Chassis: FW21 06 Best Time: 1:45.164 Best Position: 18th

"This circuit is very nice and it's also very challenging and difficult. If you turn too early or too late you don't make it, it's as simple as that! Furthermore, this track has very quick parts and slow parts and therefore it's very difficult to find a good set up. We will have to work quite hard in order to find the right compromise for getting around both these track conditions. "

Alex Zanardi

Chassis: FW21 05 T-Car Chassis: FW21 02 Best Time: 1:45.833 Best Position: 20th

"I must say that, technically speaking, this circuit is beautiful and very difficult at the same time. I think that we are ripping away stones into the asphalt, therefore the track is really dirty off-line, probably because it's the first time that some cars are running on it for such a long time. Being so wide, it invites you to overtake, but the line is one and just one."

James Robinson, Senior Operations Engineer

"Obviously today was the first day on a brand new track so we are looking at the race homework, especially on the side of brakes and tyres. At present we have a number of problems to solve this evening in preparation for tomorrow."