2009 Australian Grand Prix - Free Practice Analysis
Today's run programme targeted the following objectives: aero and mechanical set-up work, prime and option tyre evaluation, tyre degradation analysis over a long stint.
P1 programme
Lewis started with a five-lap run (best time 1m30.105s) to form a baseline for the day's programme. A later four-lap run saw Lewis visibly working his tyres on his first flying lap, yielded a 1m29.042s. A two-lap, final run of the session produced a best of 1m31.747s.
"The first session didn't prove too productive for us," said Lewis. "We worked hard to get the prime tyres to operate effectively, but the track conditions and our set-up made it difficult to get them to work, and it didn't give me the confidence to push hard."
P2 programme
Some set-up work between the sessions made Lewis more comfortable. He completed runs of six laps (1m27.958s best), seven laps (1m28.431s), seven laps (1m27.813s) and a shorter, three-lap stint (1m29.438s) to evaluate set-up changes.
"The changes we made after P1 made the car feel much better," said Lewis. "We're still working to refine the balance - and we have a number of issues still to address - but we are heading in the right direction."
While the focus of the run programme precluded the setting of low-fuel fast laps, MP4-24's speed over a long run looks better than testing indicated, although it is too early to accurately predict overall. Lewis finished the day with a 1m27.813s best, 18th fastest.
