Testing at two circuits 2003-04-23

A busy day's testing today, with six teams on track at Mugello and three at Silverstone. At Mugello Ferrari took the top two times, Rubens Barrichello setting the quickest of 1:21.667 ahead of test driver Luca Badoer. Each drove an F2003-GA chassis, Barrichello assessing set-up and tyres and Badoer completing a race distance.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was third quickest and the team also had tester Pedro de la Rosa present, the Spaniard setting the ninth time of the day. The Toyota duo of Oliver Panis and Cristiano da Matta were fourth and fifth fastest respectively. Panis worked on set-up and tyres and da Matta, on his first time at Mugello in an F1 car, ran a technical programme.

Jaguar's Mark Webber was sixth quickest, working on suspension and aerodynamics and also the launch control system, which let the team down in San Marino. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was on duty for Sauber, verifying wind tunnel aerodynamic data and running tyre tests, and was seventh. BAR was the sixth team present, Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button eighth and tenth respectively.

At Silverstone Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya set the best time despite having a whopper of a crash. The Colombian clocked a 1:21.410 before losing control at Becketts and slamming into the tyre wall at high speed. The car was very badly damaged and Montoya will not test tomorrow, but is uninjured. Team tester Marc Gene was also on track, third of the four drivers.

"Part of the purpose of testing is to discover the car’s boundaries prior to lining it up on the grid for a Grand Prix," said test team manager Tim Newton. "Fortunately, Juan is perfectly ok but the car requires some work before it hits the race track again."

"Not withstanding Juan’s accident, we’re happy with today’s progress. Positive steps were made with regards to chassis and gearbox development so we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s session when Marc will concentrate on some long distance running.“

Ralph Firman set the second best time of the day, the Jordan driver working on tyres, aerodynamics and control systems. Final man of the day was Renault tester Allan McNish who ran tyre, suspension and set-up tests.

Montoya crashes at Silverstone