Barcelona, 11th May 2007

A quick glance at the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro press release put out to the world's media reveals a common theme - engineers and drivers all surprised at how much track conditions have changed since a four day test here last week. All sorts of factors contribute to this phenomenon which basically revolves around the amount of grip available: change of temperature, wind speed and direction and previous rain that might have washed away rubber that provides the grip. The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen ended the day in fourth and sixth places respectively at the end of the afternoon's 90 minute session in what was a trouble free day. An interested observer in the back of the garage, making his first appearance at a Grand Prix since retirement, was none other than Michael Schumacher...



A result that was always going to be a crowd pleaser and might add to the number of spectators tomorrow, was the fact that reigning world champion Fernando Alonso ended the day at the top of the time sheet for McLaren- Mercedes. On the day after a street circuit grand prix in Valencia was announced for next year, it proved Spain's emerging influence in the world of F1. Second was the Spaniard's former team-mate, Giancarlo Fisichella in the Renault and reinforcing that performance in third place was the Anglo- French team's Finnish driver, Heiki Kovalainen. Sandwiched between the two Prancing Horse drivers was the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.