2009 Grand Prix of Europe, Practice Sessions 1, 2 & 3

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Free Practice 3 – Sutil Ends Practice on Top
Full practice report can be read here

Pos  Driver        Team                      Time              Laps
 1.  Sutil         Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:39.143           12
 2.  Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:39.247 + 0.104   12
 3.  Kubica        BMW Sauber           (B)  1:39.513 + 0.370   12
 4.  Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:39.553 + 0.410    8
 5.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:39.732 + 0.589   11
 6.  Fisichella    Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:39.764 + 0.621   12
 7.  Button        Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:39.883 + 0.740   10
 8.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:39.950 + 0.807   12
 9.  Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:40.017 + 0.874   11
10.  Grosjean      Renault              (B)  1:40.088 + 0.945   11
11.  Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:40.118 + 0.975   12
12.  Barrichello   Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:40.192 + 1.049   10
13.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber           (B)  1:40.230 + 1.087   12
14.  Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:40.260 + 1.117   12
15.  Alonso        Renault              (B)  1:40.402 + 1.259    9
16.  Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:40.443 + 1.300   10
17.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:40.879 + 1.736   10
18.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:40.916 + 1.773    6
19.  Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:41.125 + 1.982   12
20.  Badoer        Ferrari              (B)  1:42.198 + 3.055   14

News & Quotes:
Rosberg wary of KERS-equipped cars
McLaren experiments with new wheelbase

Free Practice 2 – Alonso Goes Quickest
Full practice report can be read here

Pos Driver        Team                      Time             Laps
 1. Alonso        Renault              (B)  1:39.404           33
 2. Button        Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:40.178  +0.774   33
 3. Barrichello   Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:40.209  +0.805   34
 4. Rosberg       Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:40.385  +0.981   39
 5. Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:40.503  +1.099   35
 6. Sutil         Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:40.596  +1.192   23
 7. Kubica        BMW Sauber           (B)  1:40.643  +1.239   34
 8. Fisichella    Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:40.681  +1.277   31
 9. Vettel        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:40.723  +1.319   33
10. Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:40.738  +1.334   31
11. Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:40.739  +1.335   39
12. Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:40.770  +1.366   32
13. Grosjean      Renault              (B)  1:40.787  +1.383   35
14. Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:40.956  +1.552   37
15. Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:40.985  +1.581   30
16. Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:41.156  +1.752   34
17. Heidfeld      BMW Sauber           (B)  1:41.350  +1.946   29
18. Badoer        Ferrari              (B)  1:42.017  +2.613   37
19. Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:42.089  +2.685   34
20. Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:43.214  +3.810    3

News & Quotes:
McLaren awaits Alonso Ferrari move
Todt reveals campaign supporters

Ferrari Team Quotes – Kimi Raikkonen: “It was a positive day. I am happy
with the handling of the car and the performance of both types of tyre
we have here from Bridgestone. There’s no point in looking at the time
sheet, because as usual on a Friday, it doesn’t tell us much. The first
session was rather difficult as the track was very dirty and slippery,
but in the second one the situation was much better. I think a podium
finish is still a realistic target for us, even if a lot will depend on
where we qualify.”

Chris Dyer: “A reasonable day, with our two drivers
running different programmes. For Luca it was a case of regaining
confidence in the car and learning a new track. For him, obviously the
more kilometres he completed the more the situation improved and we are
confident about the rest of the weekend. Therefore, Kimi worked on his
own in terms of race preparation and on evaluating tyre performance.
Our performance level seems reasonably good and we feel we can put on a
good show in this Grand Prix.”

Q&A with Kimi – Kimi Raikkonen believes he can score a podium for Ferrari in the European Grand Prix at Valencia this weekend.
Speaking to the press after ending Friday’s free practice the 2007
world champion said that he was happy with the car and the progress he
had made during the two 90-minute sessions.

Q. What was the most challenging thing today?

Kimi Raikkonen: It was a normal Friday. We tried to
work with the car. In first practice it was quite tricky but in the
second it seemed to be working pretty well. It was very normal with no
problems.

Q. Do you believe that a podium finish is a realistic target?

KR: Yes. We need to get everything right and it
depends on what happens in qualifying and at the start of the race. But
I am happy with the car and that’s a good start for the weekend.

Q. Where can the car be improved?

KR: We need more speed. But overall the handling is
pretty good and if we had more downforce we could go quicker through
the corners. But apart from that, the balance is not too bad.

Q. Did you help Luca Badoer today?

KR: I was busy with my own things, but we will talk later if he needs to. He has enough help if he needs it.

Q. After your rally outing, how do you feel about rallying as a future?

KR: I will do some when I have time and when I have
found some good rallies to do but right now we are focusing on here and
we will see where there is a big gap in the racing.

Q. What did you do during the break?

KR: I had a rally and then a normal holiday at home.

Q. You knew that Michael could be racing alongside you by newspaper – is that right?

KR: Someone told me when I was on the rally that he
will probably drive. For me, it was no problem if I read it in a
newspaper or the team tells me. There was nothing to tell anyway
because it was not 100% sure.

Q. One rival team boss has talked about expecting to see
Fernando Alonso here next year. Has your position changed for next year?

KR: It’s always the same question and the same
answer. I have a contract and that’s the situation right now. That’s
all that I know.

Free Practice 1 – Barrichello Fastest For Brawn
Full practice report can be read here

Pos Driver        Team                      Time             Laps
 1. Barrichello   Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:42.460           19
 2. Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:42.636  +0.176   16
 3. Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:42.654  +0.194   18
 4. Button        Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:43.074  +0.614   19
 5. Vettel        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:43.088  +0.628   17
 6. Sutil         Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:43.209  +0.749   13
 7. Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:43.225  +0.765   25
 8. Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:43.243  +0.783   19
 9. Alonso        Renault              (B)  1:43.345  +0.885   18
10. Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:43.384  +0.924   23
11. Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:43.389  +0.929   30
12. Kubica        BMW Sauber           (B)  1:43.419  +0.959   20
13. Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:43.637  +1.177   30
14. Rosberg       Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:43.746  +1.286   22
15. Heidfeld      BMW Sauber           (B)  1:44.040  +1.580   23
16. Fisichella    Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:44.126  +1.666   17
17. Grosjean      Renault              (B)  1:44.356  +1.896   23
18. Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:44.638  +2.178   26
19. Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:44.732  +2.272   28
20. Badoer        Ferrari              (B)  1:45.840  +3.380   25