Ralf 3rd in opening Saturday practice in Malaysia

By Andrew Hooper
March 20 2004

   
Malaysian GP Saturday 3rd Practice
 
Ralf SchumacherAs the teams prepare for qualifying later today the opening Saturday practice would see BMW WilliamsF1 team drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya finish the session in third and seventh positions.

Ralf would be one of only three drivers who were within the fastest time set again by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Ralf was 0.84 seconds behind his brother. Ralf would beat Kimi Raikkonen’s best time from yesterday with a 1:34.239. Despite the reliability requirements this season Ralf's BMW engine was still reaching 18678 revs.

The stories going around the paddock have Michael using the softer Bridgestone tyres, possibly explaining his pace. Second was the Renault of Fernando Alonso's. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen's would fail to set a time.

Michael's team-mate Rubens Barrichello was in fourth place, ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard in fifth. Making up the top six was Jarno Trulli. Despite the quick times set by the Ferrari this session again showed that the Michelin runners certainly are performing better than their Bridgestone rivals.
 
Pos Driver Team Time Laps

1. M. Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:33.391 213.669km/h 7
2. Alonso Renault (M) 1:34.175 + 0.784 12
3. R. Schumacher WilliamsF1 BMW (M) 1:34.239 + 0.848 8
4. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:34.362 + 0.971 9
5. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:34.415 + 1.024 9
6. Trulli Renault (M) 1:34.482 + 1.091 14
7. Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW (M) 1:34.547 + 1.156 12
8. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:34.770 + 1.379 5
9. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:34.839 + 1.448 11
10. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:35.516 + 2.125 9
11. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:35.678 + 2.287 4
12. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:35.697 + 2.306 16
13. Panis Toyota (M) 1:35.697 + 2.306 10
14. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:35.813 + 2.422 10
15. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:36.106 + 2.715 8
16. Heidfeld Jordan-Ford (B) 1:37.194 + 3.803 9
17. Pantano Jordan-Ford (B) 1:38.302 + 4.911 11
18. Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:39.013 + 5.622 13
19. Bruni Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:39.209 + 5.818 11
20. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) No Time 4  
 
 
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