Fisichella sizes up C23

Today was mostly a systems check, but Fisichella still completed 33 laps in the new car. His best time was a 1m12.120s lap. The best recorded testing times this winter are in the lower 1m10's, but today was not a search for speed or set-ups.

Fisichella said: "The track was very dirty and slippery today, and there was a strong wind in the afternoon. Considering all of that the lap time still looks OK. I wasn't pushing much.

"But this has been my very best first day with a new car in my life. It's nice to be back in a car testing, especially on my birthday!"

There were no problems reported today, except that 31-year-old Fisichella found the pedals a little too close in the cockpit. He wants them to be moved back to improve his driving comfort.

Fisichella's team-mate Felipe Massa was a spectator today, as Sauber have only one example of the C23. The second chassis will be ready in time for the first tests in February.