Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

WRC Canary Islands: Ogier heads Toyota 1-2-3-4-5 after dominant Friday

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
WRC Canary Islands: Ogier heads Toyota 1-2-3-4-5 after dominant Friday

Why Marquez can only "survive" in Spanish GP despite return to full fitness

MotoGP
Spanish GP
Why Marquez can only "survive" in Spanish GP despite return to full fitness

What Apple TV’s F1® coverage delivers for fans in the U.S.

Sponsored
Miami GP
What Apple TV’s F1® coverage delivers for fans in the U.S.

What other tracks should return to the F1 calendar? Our writers have their say

Formula 1
What other tracks should return to the F1 calendar? Our writers have their say

What's behind McLaren's fresh A-B F1 team angst?

Feature
Formula 1
What's behind McLaren's fresh A-B F1 team angst?

The new challenge a BTCC legend is taking on in 2026

Feature
British GT
The new challenge a BTCC legend is taking on in 2026

WRC Canary Islands: Ogier extends lead as Toyota dominates

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
WRC Canary Islands: Ogier extends lead as Toyota dominates

McNish appointed Audi F1 racing director with immediate effect

Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
McNish appointed Audi F1 racing director with immediate effect

Japan Friday quotes: BMW

Sebastian Vettel - 6th: "The circuit is stunning, especially the first sector. In this morning's first free practice it was all about learning and evaluating the track with extreme wets as well as intermediates

"In the second session I drove 19 consecutive laps at the start, and it was a good experience. When the track dried at the very end we managed two outings on grooved tyres. I had an awful lot of fun on this race track, and I really hope we can continue with this good momentum."

Robert Kubica - 18th: "The track is very challenging and difficult but nice. We have only done three laps on grooved tyres, so we need to do a bit more running as the conditions were not good. Also I spent these laps watching where to go and which lines to take."

Nick Heidfeld - 27th: "I almost didn't drive today, and in the first session in the morning only did one installation lap. In the second session in the afternoon I went out right at the end, basically to make sure all the systems were working. At the very end when everyone was on dry tyres obviously there was a lot of traffic, therefore, I didn't manage to set a good lap time."

Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "The focus of today's free practice was on the weather, and so over the two sessions we tested all available types of tyres. In the morning Sebastian used extreme wets first, and then intermediates because the conditions were changing during the hour.

"In the afternoon right up to ten minutes before the end of the session intermediates were used, and then everyone took dry tyres. Sebastian did a 19 lap run on intermediates, while in the morning Robert and Nick did just an installation lap each on these tyres. In the second free practice the two race drivers only went out with dry tyres. All three cars ran with no problems."

Willy Rampf (Technical Director): "When we realised the track conditions would not be constant we decided Sebastian should do as many laps as possible to learn the new circuit. By the end of the second session it was possible to go out on dry tyres. The first impressions we have from the tyres will be used in Saturday morning's session to find the set up for the race with different fuel loads."

Previous article Japan Friday quotes: Red Bull
Next article Q & A with Fernando Alonso

Top Comments