F2005 at Bahrain

Michael Schumacher was at Maranello yesterday (Saturday) for a day of testing at the Fiorano circuit.

The World Champion carried out the shakedown of the two F2005 which Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro will use in the Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for 3rd April at the Sakhir circuit.

At the wheel of an F2004M, he also carried out tyre testing aimed at the rest of the season. Unlike usual, the Scuderia did not reveal the number of laps nor the quickest time of the German driver.

H.G.
Source Ferrari Press

[U]I am starting to think that this F2005 is amazingly fast, this is one of the first times the Ferrari has not released the quickest lap which Schumacher has completed on either Fiorano or Mugello. Bahrain is going to be a very different race, than the other two. Ferrari now has a car which is at par with the rest of feild. Barichello managed to finish 2nd in Melbourne despite the fact that his car is much slower than the rest of the feild. So lets not get to carried away now saying that Ferrari is done, like many of you anti-Ferrari fans have stated. I am pretty sure Ferrari will come back this season fighting for top position.[/U]

Schumacher has two points from the season's first two races but expects an improvement with the new F2005.

"I'm looking forward to the car's debut - I'm really excited about it," said the seven-time world champion.

"We worked on our goals all week and were able to collect a lot of data. We've got a good basis for analysis."

Schumacher cruised to another world title last season but has found the competition - notably Renault - somewhat stiffer in 2005.

The German failed to finish the opening Grand Prix in Australia and could only manage seventh place in Malaysia.

Ferrari have been racing with a modified version of last year's car but will now wheel out the new model two races ahead of schedule.

"The most important fact is that we are far enough along with the new car to be able to use it next weekend," added Schumacher.

"It certainly won't be an easy race for us, but races are seldom easy. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Schumacher said the team was not panicking, despite the slow start to the season.

"One of the things I've learned from the past is that every Formula One season has its different phases, and this season will be longer than every one before it," he said.

"A lot is still going to happen. That things can change quickly as we're seeing right now - and that with good work you can move up."

Source BBC F1

[U]So lets hope that this car works out for the best.[/U]

Not releasing the times isnt anything special, they just want to add to everyones suspense over whether the F2005 is fast enough to challenge the Renaults, or to simply be ahead of the McLarens. Theyre going to want a really good car if they still want to challenge though, as theyve essentially "given" the first 2 rounds away to Renault

in other words, you want to burst everyones bubble by trying to prove that f1 will get boring again

[QUOTE=Cotterik]in other words, you want to burst everyones bubble by trying to prove that f1 will get boring again[/QUOTE]

lol. Anything for you Rik. It is not boring for us Ferrari fans. Everyone else cane enjoy the battle for 3rd.

Nice guys Bridgestone have revealed that all the tyre development they have done for 2005 has been for the new Ferrari.

They have f*cked Minardi and Jordan right over. No development for them AT ALL.

Just goes to show...

[QUOTE=Coventrysucks]They have f*cked Minardi and Jordan right over. No development for them AT ALL.[/QUOTE]

You have to wonder what sort of deal Bridgestone are giving them though. They pay Ferrari to do all of their development, but perhaps Jordan and Minardi are able to get their tyres significantly cheaper compared to if they were with Michelin.

[QUOTE=fpv_gtho]You have to wonder what sort of deal Bridgestone are giving them though. They pay Ferrari to do all of their development, but perhaps Jordan and Minardi are able to get their tyres significantly cheaper compared to if they were with Michelin.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but they are getting tyres which I would guess are all but useless for them.

They must be at a serious performance disadvantage to say the least.

If (some) Ferrari fans want to blame Ferrari's poor start to the season on Bridgestone, then imagine how it must be for Minardi and Jordan.

"Note that Hamashima virtually admits no tyres or compounds were developed for the F2004M (or, for that matter, the cars entered by Jordan and Minardi, which, to all intents and purposes, are updated 2004 or even older chassis), with all development going into tyres for F2005 - which, forget not, was launched merely a week before the Australian Grand Prix, and run for the first time only days before that race.

All of which begs the questions: what if Ferrari decide - as Rory Byrne stated in an exclusive interview with Autosport-Atlas during a recent dinner in South Africa – that F2005 will not run until it proves comprehensively faster and more complete than F2004M; what, if the implications of Hamashima's words are taken to their logical extreme, of the chances this season for Jordan and Minardi, for here is ultimate proof that Bridgestone is developing tyres not for one team, but for one specific design only?"

[QUOTE=Coventrysucks]Nice guys Bridgestone have revealed that all the tyre development they have done for 2005 has been for the new Ferrari.

They have f*cked Minardi and Jordan right over. No development for them AT ALL.

Just goes to show...[/QUOTE]

stupid japs, michelin are going to own them this season BIG TIME!

[QUOTE=Fabio Ferrari]lol. Anything for you Rik. It is not boring for us Ferrari fans. Everyone else cane enjoy the battle for 3rd.[/QUOTE]

hehe we'll see :cool: