GP Bahrain: Free practice 1 & 2

1. A. Sutil, Force India, 1:56.583 (18 laps)
2. F. Alonso, Ferrari, 1:56.766 (18 laps)
3. R. Kubica, Renault, 1:57.041 (19 laps)
7. V. Liuzzi, Force India, 1:57.194 (19 laps)

1. N. Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:55.409 (35 laps)
2. L. Hamilton, McLaren, 1:55.854 (34 laps)
3. M. Schumacher, Mercedes, 1:55.903 (39 laps)
14. V. Liuzzi, Force India, 1:57.833 (29 laps)

The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship finally got underway today with two 90 minute sessions at a sun-drenched Sakhir circuit in the heart of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Tonio put Force India’s new challenger, the VJM03, through its paces at the extended 6.299km track and initial findings were encouraging. The morning programme focussed on shorter runs, prime tyre evaluation and establishing a baseline set-up in the hot conditions expected this weekend. He demonstrated the pace of the VJM03 with the seventh quickest time.

In the afternoon Tonio concentrated on longer runs and comparisons of the two tyre compounds available this weekend. Again the pace was promising, and at the close of the session Tonio held the 14th quickest time.

Afterwards he commented: “Overall it was a positive day and we got through all the programme. We learnt quite a lot about the car with these kind of hot conditions, which we weren’t able to do in the cool of the winter testing. The car is reacting well to different fuel loads and to different tyres and overall we can be pretty happy with the results at the end of this first Friday. I think we are in a good way for tomorrow. For sure we could improve our single lap time, but the race pace looks good. A positive start to the weekend.”