MONZA, ITALY
TEST REPORT
After Formula One's five week summer testing break, the Honda
Racing F1 Team returned to the test track this week at Monza
in Italy, in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix to be
held at the historic race track next weekend. The team used
this opportunity to evaluate the tyre options with Michelin
for the forthcoming races, as well as running through the
car set-up options for the Monza circuit in preparation for
the Italian Grand Prix.
Third driver Anthony Davidson and Young Driver James Rossiter
began the test programme on Tuesday. Anthony worked through
an aerodynamic programme in the morning followed by an evaluation
of the tyre options for the Italian Grand Prix, completing
101 laps. James spent the day focusing on further tyre work,
also for the Monza race, and completed 114 laps.
Jenson Button joined the team on Wednesday and spent most
of the morning session optimising car balance in readiness
for an intensive tyre programme in the afternoon. Despite
continuous circuit red lights which interrupted running throughout
the day, Jenson completed 107 laps. In the second car, Rubens
Barrichello also spent the morning finding a good set-up,
followed by tyre and electronics programmes, completing 75
laps.
Jenson and Rubens continued running on Thursday, although
the planned morning programme was interrupted when they each
experienced different engine problems, the causes of which
are currently being investigated. Despite this, both drivers
were able to make good progress with their morning schedules
with Jenson running through a tyre programme and Rubens completing
electronic settings work as well a short aero evaluation.
This work was continuing into the afternoon session when a
problem with the rear suspension caused Jenson to leave the
track at Parabolica and hit the barrier.
Jenson Button
"It has been an intensive two days at Monza this week
with a lot of work to complete prior to next weekend. We spent
most of my two days concentrating on tyre testing with Michelin
to gather the data to choose the tyres for the race. There
has been resurfacing work at Monza and the new asphalt is
of a different composition which has made the tyre testing
particularly challenging, but I believe that we have the data
now to make the right choice. Today's problems have been a
little disappointing so we will have to wait and see what
the analysis of these issues tells us."
Rubens Barrichello
"It is always good to test at a circuit before the race
and we have got some good data on the tyres and also the controls
systems work that I have been doing this week, so in that
respect it has been a positive test. We didn't complete as
many laps as we would have liked today but the car feels good
and our pace is reasonable so we have every reason to look
forward to the race next weekend."
Anthony Davidson
"I covered over one hundred laps on the first day of
the test concentrating on the tyre options and car set-up
for the race. It was a different experience getting used to
the new tarmac around the second sector of the lap and it
will make the tyre choice quite interesting for the race.
It's always good to drive at Monza as it is completely different
to every other circuit that we visit and a real mental challenge
over every lap for the driver. The car felt good on the lower
downforce settings that we use here and I felt that we were
looking competitive."
James Rossiter
"We had a good day on Tuesday with no reliability issues,
which meant that we could complete our programme for the day
and cover a lot of laps. We ran through an aero evaluation
as well as a tyre test for the Italian Grand Prix. The car
felt good and it was nice to be back driving after the summer
testing break."
Mark Ellis - Chief Engineer Vehicle Performance
"Although we have had some problems today, we have had
an excellent test, despite the changing track conditions.
All the drivers have been happy with the balance and pace
of the car and we have made some encouraging progress with
aero, suspension and electronic systems developments. We have
completed a comprehensive tyre test and are confident Michelin
have come up with some good solutions for next week's race
where we look forward to continuing our recent competitive
race performances."
TEST STATS
Drivers Chassis Tuesday 29 August
Wednesday 30 August Thursday 31 August
Jenson Button RA106-02 -
107 laps Fastest lap 01:22.640 53 laps Fastest lap 01:22.536
Rubens Barrichello RA106-06 -
75 laps Fastest lap 01:22.968 35 laps Fastest lap 01:23.096
Anthony Davidson RA106-02 101 laps Fastest lap
01:23.185 - -
James Rossiter RA106-06 114 laps Fastest lap
01:23.910 - -
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