2007 Spanish Grand Prix Race Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, F8-VII/03):
13th 1:31:49.413 63 laps (+2 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:25.191
Christijan Albers (car 21, F8-VII/02):
14th 1:32:25.252 63 laps (+2 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:25.260
Weather: Highs of 28 C ambient / 39 C track. Hot and sunny
but gentle breeze around the track.
13 May 2007 - For the second consecutive race, the Etihad
Aldar Spyker Formula One Team has achieved a double finish,
with Adrian Sutil 13th and Christijan Albers 14th respectively.
In a race of attrition that saw one third of the field fail
to finish, both Spykers ran reliably to the end to secure
the team's best result of the season so far. With this result,
the team moves into 10th position in the constructors' championship.
Adrian Sutil had a consistent race, lapping within half a
second of the Aguri of Anthony Davidson and the Toyota of
Ralf Schumacher for the first half of the race. As more competitors
dropped out, Adrian moved up the order to 13th by his first
pit stop on lap 23. In his second stint, the 24-year-old German
then kept the Honda of Jenson Button at bay until a stall
during his second pit stop on lap 47 dropped him back behind
the Briton. Undeterred, Adrian pushed hard to keep in touch
with Button and finish the race a solid 13th position overall.
Christijan Albers also showed well, putting in similar lap
times to Adrian throughout the race. His race was however
interrupted by a drivethrough penalty on lap 33 for failing
to observe blue overtaking flags and, like Adrian, a stall
in the pits on his second stop on lap 48.
The team's test programme will continue next week in a four
day test at Paul Ricard to prepare for the forthcoming Monaco
and Canadian Grands Prix.
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'It was a good race for me. It was important that we finished.
I did very consistent lap times compared to the other teams
in front of us, which shows we can now follow cars in front
and put them under some pressure - this can only be good for
future races. The first pit stop was OK, but in the second
the engine stalled. I only lost three or four seconds but
it was enough to lose the place, but I'm pleased with the
performance and looking forward to Monaco, where I've also
raced before.'
Christijan Albers (car 21)
'Once more we've got to be pleased we got two cars to the
finish, but we've got to now focus on really getting up there
with the other teams. The beginning of the race was good,
I could keep up with others, but it was disappointing to get
the blue flag penalty and then have the stall in the second
pit stop. I think we're moving forward though and with the
test next week in Paul Ricard, we can hope for a better result
out in Monaco.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'Again it was a step forward for us in getting both cars home.
It was a relatively trouble-free race, although stalls for
both drivers in the second pit stops and Christijan's drivethrough
penalty cost us a little bit of time and, for Adrian, also
lost us a position to Button. Our pace was however more competitive
than in previous races and we had good reliability, so now
we have to concentrate on bettering the overall package and
getting new parts on the car that will improve our speed relative
to the others.'
Colin Kolles, team principal and managing director
'The whole team worked hard and did a great job this weekend.
We've moved forward not only in pace, but also in the championship
- going up a place is a just reward for all the hard effort
for the team.'
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