April's Driver Diaries
10 May 08
Two race weekends in Bahrain and Spain, two test sessions, a TV appearance, three partner events, training and a visit to the factory have kept Nico and Kazuki out of trouble in April....
Wednesday 2nd
Nico flies from Monaco to Bahrain; Kazuki makes the short hop from Dubai, where he’s been doing some hot weather training. Nico makes the journey with his father Keke, who is attending his first race of the year.
Thursday 3rd
Nico does a TV interview with his former karting team-mate Lewis Hamilton. They joke about old times and, in particular, the haircuts that they had as teenagers. The interview will be broadcast on German station RTL prior to Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
Sunday 6th
Nico finishes 8th in the Bahrain GP and Kazuki 14th. They then return to Europe, Nico to Monaco and Kazuki to Oxford in the UK.
Wednesday 9th
Kazuki heads to Kemble Airfield in Gloucestershire to give the FW30’s new aerodynamic package a shakedown prior to next week’s intensive four-day test session in Barcelona. The Eurosport film crew were also there to capture the team at work for a new show on the sport’s channel, called “The Factory – A Year with AT&T Williams.”
Monday 14th
Kazuki is back in the FW30, this time at the Circuit de Catalunya. He carries out a 2009 tyre evaluation with Bridgestone in the morning, and tests new suspension parts in the afternoon.
Tuesday 15th
Nico takes over behind the wheel and spends the day carrying out more 2009 tyre testing. Kazuki, meanwhile, heads to Girona, north of Barcelona, to stay at the house of his race engineer, Xevi Pujolar.
Wednesday 16th
Nico completes his second day in the car and focuses on set-up work ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. He sets the fifth quickest time of the day.
Thursday 17th
Kazuki is back in the car, but heavy downpours in the morning limit his running to the afternoon. Nico, meanwhile, heads to Munich for an RBS event.
Friday 18th
Nico flies from Germany to the team’s factory in Grove. As well as doing a walkaround to say hello to staff, he drops in to see his boss Frank Williams.
Monday 21st
Nico does a photoshoot for F1 Racing Magazine in the Monaco Casino, wearing a tuxedo. “I don’t mind wearing a tux,” he says, “but not at nine in the morning!”
Wednesday 23rd
Nico flies to Barcelona early to attend an Allianz event in the city.
Thursday 24th
Retro gear to the fore! Nico and Kazuki model McGregor’s F1 retro clothing range in the paddock at the Circuit de Catalunya. Kazuki’s green shirt brings back memories of the Williams F1 team gear of the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Sunday 27th
Kazuki finishes seventh in the Spanish Grand Prix, maintaining his 100 percent finishing record in 2008, while Nico retires from a points-scoring position. The drivers return to the UK and Monaco to prepare for the forthcoming Turkish Grand Prix.
