The information is yet to be confirmed by HRT F1 team principal Colin Kolles, but the latest reports from Sepang point in that direction. Since the current regulations in terms of testing agreed upon by the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) prevent the use of two wind tunnels through the duration of a single season, Mercedes chief Ross Brawn admitted one of their facilities at Brackley are up for rent.
“We have two wind tunnels. Because of the FOTA constraint regulations we only use one of them for our own formula one programme so the other one is let out to customers,” explained the Mercedes official to reporters at Sepang, before admitting that HRT “is renting some time in the tunnel.”
The Spanish outfit has been late on developing their 2011-spec single-seater, giving its track time for the first time in the Australian Grand Prix practice. Consequently, neither of the two HRT drivers made the grid at Albert Park, a situation that the team hopes to avoid this weekend.
If we are to trust the FP2 timing reports on Friday, the team has reasons to be optimistic for the Saturday qualy, as Narain Karthikeyan's fastest lap time was half a second into the 107 percent rule imposed by the FIA.
“Everybody used option tires today, so we still have a reasonable chance to qualify tomorrow,” opinionated Karthikeyan after the Friday action.
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