MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS in Japanese free practice

PRACTICEThe opening day of practice for the Japanese Grand Prix saw the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg complete 33 laps and 37 laps respectively during the two 90-minute sessions. Both drivers evaluated development items this morning, before conductingrace preparation this afternoon Nico experienced a precautionary engine shut-off at the end of P1 becauseof an oil pressure problem The engine, which had completed nearly 2000 km, was changed in the breakfor another unit from his allocation Michael went off the track at Turn 13 in the second session, bringing hisday to an end 15 minutes earlier than plannedDrivers Car No. Chassis No. Practice OnePractice Two Michael Schumacher 7 F1 W03 / 09 20 laps 1:35.122 P513 laps 1:33.750 P10 Nico Rosberg 8 F1 W03 / 07 18 laps 1:35.059 P419 laps 1:33.866 P11

Weather Warm and sunny Temperatures Air: 25-27C Track: 30-39C

Michael SchumacherWe had two quite eventful sessions today, with a lot of work on the cars andmy off in the afternoon. I had to go to the Medical Centre which was aprecaution from the FIA but I am 100% okay. I think I was alreadyconcentrating too much on the corner ahead of me and therefore had a wheelon the dirt and went off. Overall, we had not been able to collect as muchdata as we would have wanted, as we had a lot of breaks working onadjustments to the cars, and we will also have to improve the balance.Obviously, with these temperatures the tyres will be a limiting factor, too.We will now certainly have to work a lot off the track, in front of thecomputers, and try to find the best approach for tomorrow.Nico RosbergWe had a tricky day. At the end of the first practice session, the oilpressure sensor told me the system was low on pressure so I switched off theengine. It was coming to the end of its life, so we changed it during lunchto avoid any risks, but it cost some running time this afternoon. We arestill not where we want to be in terms of performance and we will have tolearn some lessons overnight, in order to make sure we have our tyremanagement under control.Ross Brawn That wasn't the smoothest of Fridays for us today. After an oil pressureproblem this morning, we changed the engine in Nico's car over the breakwhich took us into the afternoon session, and then ran through a slightlycompressed tyre comparison and race evaluation programme. With Michael, wedecided to do a fairly major set-up change before the second session whichcost us running time. Towards the end of the session, it appears thatMichael put a tyre on the dirt going into Turn 13 and lost control the car.While it's not an ideal start to the weekend, we were able to collect a lotof data and complete some important set-up changes, so we will work on thosetonight to be in better shape tomorrow.Norbert HaugIt was a Friday with some interruptions for our team. Nico lost somepractice time at the beginning of the second session following an enginechange, which was necessary after an oil pressure problem at the very end ofthe first session. With nearly 2000 km, this engine was approaching the endof its life-cycle. Michael was one of quite a few drivers who left the roadunder braking at Turn 13, which happened towards the end of the secondsession with only minor damage to the car. Today we found a baseline set upfor qualifying and the race which will be refined in tomorrow morning's freepractice session.


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