Bridgestone happy

World champions Renault are switching to the Japanese rubber from Michelin, as are McLaren, BMW Sauber, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Honda, and all had their first taste of Bridgestone this week.

Renault were unsurprisingly the best of the newcomers, with Heikki Kovalainen going second on the final day of the test, but Bridgestone's technical manager Hisao Suganuma was pleased with the feedback he received from all the teams.

Suganuma said: “Our priorities have now changed from winning races to providing safe, fair and durable tyres to the whole F1 grid.

“Following initial feedback and analysis, it looks like we have produced a good one-make tyre with consistent performance. It probably would not win any races in a competitive tyre supply situation but that situation is now behind us.”

“The focus is on durability and consistency and therefore the general grip has been reduced, but these conditions are the same for everyone.

“The challenge is now for the engineers and drivers to get the most out of the tyres through car set up. On the whole, the tyre has exceeded our objectives for a single make situation.”

Ferrari had been expected to gain a huge advantage next season, having used the Japanese rubber for the last eight years – longer than anyone else.

But despite the Scuderia topping each one of the three days at the Spanish circuit with Felipe Massa and Luca Badoer, Suganuma insisted that they are not being favoured, and are simply doing a very good job.

He added: “Our 2007 specification of tyres are as new to Ferrari as they are to the other ten teams. They have had to adjust their set up like everyone else. The only small advantage they have is in the personal relationships, which is natural.”