Panasonic Toyota Racing’s test team awoke to leaden skies, a spectacular thunder storm and torrential rain, which flooded the circuit and washed out the morning’s running at Monza on Thursday. Teams completed installation laps more in hope than anticipation and meaningful testing was suspended until after a rescheduled early lunch break.

Ralf Schumacher did manage 43 laps despite the conditions and he worked on the brakes, as well as aerodynamic set-up. The team has now taken the decision to utilise the extra day available due to the time lost, and continue with its test program on Friday where Ralf will once again be in the cockpit. 

“The track was very green after all the morning rain, which certainly did not help,” he said. “When the circuit dried out we had to prioritise some aerodynamic evaluation left over from yesterday, once the decision had been taken to extend the test. Tomorrow we will go back to concentrating more on mechanical set-up and hopefully have a fully productive day, weather permitting. ”