Istanbul, Friday 9th May 2008
Lewis Hamilton MP4-23 04
Heikki Kovalainen MP4-23 05

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen finished Friday's second Free Practice for the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul in second and fifth positions respectively. Lewis completed 31 laps and set a best time of 1m27.579 and was 36 thousandths of a second behind the fastest lap of the afternoon. Heikki did 27 laps and did 1m27.954. In the morning session, Heikki was second fastest with a 1m27.456 (17 laps) and Lewis ended up third with a 1m27.752 (15 laps).

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9 May 2008 -The Force India Formula One Team started its Turkish Grand Prix challenge today with two one and a half hour practice sessions at a chilly and overcast Istanbul Park.
With second practice expected to deliver rain showers, the team adjusted the morning session programme to conduct tyre comparisons and establish a strong baseline set-up for the weekend. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil both completed 23 laps, recording the 15th and 14th quickest times respectively. Unfortunately however Giancarlo was just seconds early in exiting the pit lane at the start of the session -crossing the line just a fraction before the red light -and was handed a three-place grid penalty for the race.
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Istanbul, 9th May 2008
Free practice - First session
F. Massa: 1st 1.27.323 16 Laps Chassis 267
K. Raikkonen: 20th 1.30.732 3 Laps Chassis 270
Weather: air temperature 15/17 °C, track temperature 22/25 °C, covered skies.
Free Practice - Second session
K. Raikkonen: 1st 1.27.543 30 Laps Chassis 270
F. Massa: 3rd 1.27.682 29 Laps Chassis 267
Weather: air temperature 14/16 °C, track temperature 17/18 °C, covered skies.

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FRIDAY 9 MAY, 2008
AT&T Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima and Nico Rosberg closed Friday’s free practice sessions for the Turkish Grand Prix in 8th and 13th places respectively, using the track time available to evaluate set-up direction. Running was somewhat restricted today, a result of Istanbul’s cooler May conditions and a damp track at the start of both sessions. A red flag in the second also cost the drivers some set-up time.

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Friday 9 May 2008

Today's Weather: Cloudy and cool with showers at lunch, air 12-16°C, track 18-25°C
Toyota's Best Turkish GP qualifying: 5th, Jarno Trulli 2005, Ralf Schumacher 2006
Toyota's Best Turkish GP race result: 6th, Jarno Trulli 2005
Take Note: The TF108 has further aerodynamic improvements this weekend following the major step taken for the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

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From: The Stewards of the Meeting Document 10
To: The Team Manager Force India F1 Team
Date 09 May 2008 Time 10:00

The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, have considered the following matter, determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor named below and impose the penalty referred to.
N° Driver: 21, Giancarlo Fisichella
Competitor: Force India F1 Team
Time: 10:00
Facts: Exiting the pit lane when the pit exit lights were red
Offence: Breach of Article 31,3 of the 2008 FlA Formula One Sporting Regulations

Penalty: Drop of 3 grid positions (Article 31,6)

2008 FORMULA 1 PETROL OFISI TURKISH GRAND PRIX - Istanbul

POS DRIVER NAT ENTRANT TIME GAP KPH
1 K. RAIKKONEN FIN Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:27.543 219.512
2 L. HAMILTON GBR Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1:27.579 +0.036 219.422
3 F. MASSA BRA Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:27.682 +0.139 219.164
4 D. COULTHARD GBR Red Bull Racing 1:27.763 +0.220 218.962
5 H. KOVALAINEN FIN Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1:27.954 +0.411 218.486
6 R. KUBICA POL BMW Sauber F1 Team 1:28.431 +0.888 217.308
7 J. TRULLI ITA Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:28.619 +1.076 216.847
8 K. NAKAJIMA JPN AT&T Williams 1:28.664 +1.121 216.737
9 F. ALONSO ESP ING Renault F1 Team 1:28.681 +1.138 216.695
10 N. HEIDFELD GER BMW Sauber F1 Team 1:28.817 +1.274 216.363
11 J. BUTTON GBR Honda Racing F1 Team 1:28.826 +1.283 216.342
12 T. GLOCK GER Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:28.849 +1.306 216.286
13 N. ROSBERG GER AT&T Williams 1:28.907 +1.364 216.144
14 G. FISICHELLA ITA Force India F1 Team 1:29.008 +1.465 215.899
15 R. BARRICHELLO BRA Honda Racing F1 Team 1:29.024 +1.481 215.860
16 N. PIQUET BRA ING Renault F1 Team 1:29.212 +1.669 215.405
17 S. VETTEL GER Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:29.462 +1.919 214.804
18 S. BOURDAIS FRA Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:29.630 +2.087 214.401
19 M. WEBBER AUS Red Bull Racing 1:29.633 +2.090 214.394
20 A. SUTIL GER Force India F1 Team 1:30.832 +3.289 211.564

© 2008 Formula One Administration Ltd,6 Princes Gate,London,SW7 1QJ,England

2008 FORMULA 1 PETROL OFISI TURKISH GRAND PRIX - Istanbul

POS DRIVER NAT ENTRANT TIME GAP KPH
1 F. MASSA BRA Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:27.323 220.065
2 H. KOVALAINEN FIN Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1:27.456 +0.133 219.731
3 L. HAMILTON GBR Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1:27.752 +0.429 218.989
4 F. ALONSO ESP ING Renault F1 Team 1:28.284 +0.961 217.670
5 J. BUTTON GBR Honda Racing F1 Team 1:28.919 +1.596 216.115
6 K. NAKAJIMA JPN AT&T Williams 1:29.002 +1.679 215.914
7 N. HEIDFELD GER BMW Sauber F1 Team 1:29.024 +1.701 215.860
8 R. BARRICHELLO BRA Honda Racing F1 Team 1:29.068 +1.745 215.754
9 N. PIQUET BRA ING Renault F1 Team 1:29.082 +1.759 215.720
10 T. GLOCK GER Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:29.103 +1.780 215.669
11 J. TRULLI ITA Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:29.329 +2.006 215.123
12 R. KUBICA POL BMW Sauber F1 Team 1:29.330 +2.007 215.121
13 N. ROSBERG GER AT&T Williams 1:29.367 +2.044 215.032
14 A. SUTIL GER Force India F1 Team 1:29.756 +2.433 214.100
15 G. FISICHELLA ITA Force India F1 Team 1:29.811 +2.488 213.969
16 M. WEBBER AUS Red Bull Racing 1:30.088 +2.765 213.311
17 D. COULTHARD GBR Red Bull Racing 1:30.340 +3.017 212.716
18 S. BOURDAIS FRA Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:30.388 +3.065 212.603
19 S. VETTEL GER Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:30.426 +3.103 212.514
20 K. RAIKKONEN FIN Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:30.732 +3.409 211.797

© 2008 Formula One Administration Ltd,6 Princes Gate,London,SW7 1QJ,England.

Istanbul, 8th May - Kimi Raikkonen, the winner of the last Grand Prix in Barcelona a fortnight ago arrived at the Istanbul Park circuit, where he won three years ago and as usual on a Thursday, he had his regular pre-weekend meeting with the media, admitting that he was more comfortable at Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro than last year. "For sure, I am finding my job easier this year as it is my second season with Ferrari," said the Finn. "The longer you work with people the more you understand them and how they operate, what they want to do and what they expect from you. Of course, the car is different this year, but the rest of the environment is the same and we know how to get the best out of the car."

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Istanbul, 8th May - Felipe Massa is well known in Turkey now and his local fans would have been pleased to hear his opening remarks at this afternoon's press conference, at the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro media unit: "I love this track and why wouldn't I as I have won here for the past two years!" began the Brazilian. "It is great fun to drive especially the quick sections. Having won here before it gives me a lot of confidence. I can't explain why I have done well here particularly. Yes, I like it, but I also like other circuits and I am quick at other circuits."

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Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen has been declared fit to race in this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix.

A statement, issued by the FIA Medical Delegate, stated:

Following a medical examination this morning by the FIA Medical Delegate, Professor Jean-Charles Piette, and the Chief Medical Officer of the event, Dr. Cem Boneval, Heikki Kovalainen was cleared to race in the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix.

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During the recent Spanish Grand Prix a new front wheel on Heikki car failed on lap 22.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and its Official Supplier of wheels have now conducted a thorough technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the failure.

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From The FIA Formula One Technical Delegate To The Stewards of the Meeting
TECHNICAL DELEGATE'S REPORT
Today the cockpit exit time according to Article 13.1 of the 2008 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations and the clearance of the driver's knees according to Article 13.3 of the 2008 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations have been successfully checked with the test driver Pedro de la Rosa.
Jo Bauer
FIA Formula One Technical Delegate
Time 16:45 Date 08 May 2008 Document 06

From The Stewards of the Meeting Document 05
To All Teams and FOM Date 08 May 2008
Time 17.00

The Stewards, having received a report from the Technical Delegate note that 20 cars will participate in the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix. Therefore Under Article 33-1 of the 2008 Sporting Regulations the Stewards have decided only 5 cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2 of the Qualifying Practice.

08/05/2008 07:24:48

What can I say except that I am so sad and disappointed that the Super Aguri F1 team has had to withdraw from F1.

I realised that the situation for the team was very difficult but I really hoped that all the parties involved would find a solution. Unfortunately for whatever reasons this has not happened...

With all the problems going on I have just tried to stay optimistic and focus on supporting the team in any way I can.

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