The first day of 2005/6 winter testing saw Franck Montagny and Jose Maria Lopez in action for the Renault F1
Team. Both drivers ran the R25 with a V10 engine in simulated hV8 configuration.
Franck began the day with the V10 in normal
configuration to establish a base-line set-up, before running the engine in restricted mode to simulate V8 power outputs. He worked
on fine-tuning engine mapping, and made good progress on a set-up programme to adapt the car’s mechanical and aerodynamic handling
to the revised demands of the lower power out-put.
Having not driven the car for quite a long period, Jose Maria Lopez
initially had to re-acclimatize himself to the R25. Subsequently, he began running with the restricted V10, conducting further
chassis set-up work in parallel to Franck’s programme.
Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer: “Our first day was a bit
complicated owing to the very cold temperatures we had to face in the morning, which meant we could not complete any meaningful
running until 11:00. However, we subsequently made good progress in understanding and optimising the car’s behaviour with the
simulated 2006 power output.”
