Heidfeld finishes 3rd best in Monaco's first test


By BMW Sauber F1 Team
May 24 2007

In the first free practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, successfully completed the scheduled preparation programme. At the end of a busy session, Nick finished third, while Robert took ninth place on the time sheets.

Having completed 31 laps (Nick) and 28 (Robert) respectively, both drivers were among the busiest drivers this morning. For the major part of the 90-minute session, they focused on working on the set-ups on the harder compound tyre available. Robert set his personal fastest lap time of 1:18.675 minutes in the first of his four stints and held fifth place, behind the McLarens and the Ferraris, for much of the session. In the end, he finished ninth.

Nick's fastest lap, set on the harder compound, was slightly slower than that of his team-mate, but with 20 minutes remaining he went out to contest the fourth of his five stints on the super soft compound. On the first timed lap of this stint, he crossed the line in 1:17.615 minutes to take third place, just 0.643 seconds behind the quickest driver of the morning session, Fernando Alonso (McLaren).

It became obvious that the super soft compound's performance level clearly decreases after just one fast lap. Therefore, it can be expected that all the teams will try to contest just one short stint on the soft compound during Sunday's race, providing the conditions don't change drastically. In qualifying, however, the super-soft compound will most definitely represent the only choice if a driver wants to secure a top position on the grid.

In the second free practice session (14:00 to 15:30hrs local time, 13:00 to 14:30hrs BST), the BMW Sauber F1 Team will continue its preparations for the remainder of the weekend.

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