Lotus-Renault GP F1 Team News & Updates: AND SO IT BEGINS

Friday, March 25, 2011

AND SO IT BEGINS

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So the waiting is finally over. Today, the first official day of the first race of the 2011 Formula 1 season, the racing began in earnest with two keenly contested free practice sessions taking place at Albert Park.

The buzz around the paddock stepped up a level today as team staff, media, guests and the who's who of the F1 world strutted their stuff with the excitement beginning to grow ahead of the practise sessions.

Throughout an occasionally rainy and often overcast afternoon in Melbourne, Nick and Vitaly stepped into their R31s to try and make their mark on what promises to be one of the most competitive grids for years.

With five past F1 World Champions in the field, both our drivers faced up to the reality of some super-quick lap times recorded by the other teams. Just after 1.30pm, Nick left the garage and began a session which lasted 14 laps, recording a best lap time of 1.28.928s and leaving him 12^th fastest at the end of the session. Vitaly came out even stronger than his teammate, with a best lap time of 1.28.765s, finishing as 10^th fastest.

Home favourite Mark Webber did not go unnoticed as he posted the fastest time of the session – 1.26.831s.

Following the Drivers Debrief, Nick and Vitaly put their helmets on for the second free practice session at 16.30. With ninety minutes driving time available, Vitaly again finished just ahead of Nick, ending up as the 12^th fastest driver (1.27.528s) to Nick's 13^th (1.27.536). Throughout both sessions, Nick clocked up 36 laps of the city circuit, while Vitaly completed 44 – both would have liked to have completed more, though.

There was little respite for Nick, as the media then came calling. At the official FIA Press Conference, he was the centre of attention alongside World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Perez, Paul Di Resta and Jerome D'Ambrosio. Being a star name comes with its commitments!