2007 French Grand Prix Race Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, F8-VII/04):
17th: 1:31:34.551 (+2 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:18.091
Christijan Albers (car 21, F8-VII/01):
DNF: Accident (Lap 28)
Fastest lap: 1:18.955
The Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team's disappointing
French Grand Prix weekend came to a similarly frustrating
conclusion today in Magny-Cours. Adrian Sutil finished in
17th position, two laps down from winner Kimi Raikkonen, while
Christijan retired on lap 28 when he pulled away from a pit
stop with the fuel hose still attached to his car.
Despite starting in the T-car following an electrical problem
on the grid, Adrian Sutil provided the one highlight for the
team when he set lap times close to those of the top six early
on in the race. A drivethrough penalty for exceeding the pit
lane speed limit however put him back to the end of the field
and out of contention.
A radio problem just before Adrian's first pit stop meant
both he and Christijan pitted on the same lap. The Spyker
crew did an outstanding job to refuel and change Adrian's
tyres before Christijan arrived, but the Dutchman exited the
box while the lollipop was still down and the hose still connected
to the car. Fortunately no one was injured in the incident.
With the British Grand Prix just one week away, the team
now returns to its base just across from Silverstone Circuit
to focus on bettering this weekend's performance.
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'This was for sure not the perfect race. We had an electrical
problem at the start and I had to change to the T-car, but
after I had got used to it I could go faster and faster and
the lap times were competitive. Unfortunately then I got a
drivethrough penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit
and dropped down. I will go through and check everything,
but in the end we were just not fast enough this weekend and
couldn't race any cars. It is disappointing, but hopefully
in Silverstone it will be much better.'
Christijan Albers (car 21)
'From today I think the most important thing is that the guys
were OK and nobody was hurt in the accident. The first stint
was quite OK at the beginning but then I got a lot of oversteer
and the balance changed a little bit. I think I just made
a mistake in the pits, I thought the lollipop was going up.
It was quite chaotic as Adrian had just been in the pits,
but more on my side and I just drove away. I am pleased that
the guys are OK; this is the first time in my life that this
has happened, and hopefully the last.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'First of all well done to everyone in the pit crew who did
a fabulous job. Obviously this was a very difficult race.
We had an electrical problem at the start of the race on Adrian's
car and he had to start in the spare. During the first stint
the pace was not too bad, especially with Adrian who managed
to pass his team-mate and set some very competitive lap times.
Unfortunately we had a radio problem on Adrian's car, which
meant we couldn't get in contact with him and he came in a
lap early on the lap we had called Christijan in. The crew
did a tremendous job to service both cars and Christijan would
have lost very little time as a result, but he made a mistake
and drove off when the lollipop was still down and the fuel
hose was still attached. It was obviously a very dangerous
situation and this sort of thing shouldn't have happened.
Unfortunately Adrian then got a drivethrough penalty, but
when in clean air our pace was much better than we showed
in Qualifying yesterday. As a team we now have to make sure
we eliminate mistakes and perform at a much higher level.'
Colin Kolles, team principal and managing director
'I am not happy and we have to learn from the mistakes that
were made today.'
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