Promising Start for Sauber Drivers

The Sauber team could only work on tyre comparison for Sunday's British Grand Prix after today's practice was hit by a torrential rain.

The Swiss squad's drivers Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld wound up eighth and tenth quickest respectively on Friday, in a promising start for the Ferrari-powered team. However, due to the weather, both Massa and Heidfeld could only work on comparing different tyre compounds.

"I had no technical problems today, and because of the weather we were at least able to do all our wet tyre comparisons, but it was one of those days when it was difficult to really push," Heidfeld said.

"Every time I got a rhythm going I kept coming across yellow flags where other drivers had gone off. The balance was okay towards the end of this afternoon's session, but it could have been better even with the track being so slippery."

Brazilian Massa lost time in the first session after he spun and ended up on the gravel, and despite going off the track again in the afternoon the young rookie recovered well and set the eighth fastest time.

"To begin with my set-up wasn't very good," said Massa. "I had understeer this morning and not enough traction, and that's why I went off into the gravel with 15 minutes left. But we worked hard and the car was a lot better this afternoon."