Red-hot Massa still unbeatable in Bahrain
Thursday, 01, March, 2007, 17:13


Felipe Massa completed a perfect week's work in Bahrain by setting the pace on the final major day of pre-season Formula 1 testing on Thursday.

The Brazilian has been in commanding form all week at the Sakhir circuit, topping the times on each of the three days and establishing himself as one of the firm favourites ahead of the 2007 season, which gets underway in Australia on March 18.

Having set a benchmark time of 1m30.640s on Wednesday, Massa upped the ante to a stunning 1m29.989s on Thursday morning, as he continued to evaluate Ferrari's new aerodynamic package.

Despite completing just 45 laps and stopping work before the lunch break, Felipe finished 0.4s ahead of his nearest rival, Renault's Heikki Kovalainen.

The Finnish rookie's week began badly with a spectacular crash on Tuesday, but he has had no trouble getting back up to speed and shaded team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella by 0.1s.

Both drivers' running was interrupted by mechanical problems, although Renault said the parts that failed on Fisichella's car had exceeded their target mileage and were therefore not a concern.

The Renault duo sandwiched the two Ferraris, with Kimi Raikkonen setting the fourth fastest time after he took over the aero package that Massa had been using in the morning.

World champion Fernando Alonso was fifth quickest for McLaren, two places and 0.8s clear of test driver Pedro de la Rosa.

Rubens Barrichello gave Honda a boost with the sixth-best time, but team-mate Jenson Button languished in 14th.

Scott Speed, whose contract renewal with Toro Rosso was confirmed last Saturday, was the surprise of the day, posting the eighth fastest time.

Team-mate Tonio Liuzzi was similarly impressive on Wednesday and so far Red Bull's junior outfit has upstaged the more heralded 'A' team.


Testing times from Bahrain (March 1)

1. MASSA       Ferrari      1m29.989s

2. KOVALAINEN   Renault      1m30.384s

3. FISICHELLA   Renault      1m30.498s

4. RAIKKONEN    Ferrari      1m30.534s

5. ALONSO       McLaren      1m30.564s

6. BARRICHELLO Honda       1m31.067s

7. DE LA ROSA   McLaren      1m31.354s

8. SPEED       Toro Rosso   1m31.500s

9. COULTHARD    Red Bull    1m31.589s

10. HEIDFELD    BMW          1m31.720s

11. WEBBER       Red Bull    1m31.742s

12. KUBICA       BMW          1m31.751s

13. SCHUMACHER   Toyota       1m31.791s

14. BUTTON       Honda       1m31.837s

15. MONTAGNY    Toyota       1m32.264s

16. SATO         Super Aguri 1m33.337s