Vettel fastest as testing resumes
#1
03-01-2009, 03:03 PM
Vettel fastest as testing resumes
After a brief respite, the pre-season testing programme resumed today at Jerez in Spain with all but Toro Rosso Ferrari and Honda in action.
The day was notable not just for the debut of the new Force India Mercedes VJM02 package with Giancarlo Fisichella behind the wheel, but also because of the high number of mechanical failures and subsequent red flag periods.
With the majority of those in action coasting to a halt at one point or another, the teams requested an extension to the 5pm local time cut-off, only to be denied. In addition, a rain shower at 2.30pm local time also complicated matters a little for the eight teams present.
New Red Bull recruit Sebastian Vettel set the pace in the new RB4 package with a best time of 1:19.055s, but the German youngster lost time with a Renault engine failure. Still, Vettel managed a respectable 87 laps of the 4.428km Spanish test venue and was a massive 1.3 seconds clear of Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F60, who also lost time after taking to a gravel trap.
Kamui Kobayashi was in action for the Toyota team – who like Ferrari and BMW Sauber are readjusting to the cooler European climate after nearly two weeks in Bahrain - and the German-based team seem to be having a relatively strong build up to the new season with the new TF109. Kobayashi posted the third fastest time ahead of Williams Toyota driver Nico Rosberg who was another driver forced to a halt with a mechanical problem in the newly liveried FW31.
Robert Kubica was fifth fastest in his BMW Sauber ahead of Fisichella in the new Mercedes-powered VJM02. The Italian veteran was however only able to complete 31 laps in the new machine, his fastest lap coming on his 22nd of the day.
Pedro de la Rosa completed the most laps of the day – 94 – but was forced to end his session a little prematurely when his McLaren Mercedes ground to a halt late in the session. The Spanish tester was seventh best on the day ahead of Nelson Piquet who also brought out the red flags late in the day as his Renault came to a halt on track.
Testing continues at Jerez on Monday.
Jerez - 01/03/2009
1 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:19.055 (+ 0.000 ) - 87 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.330 (+ 1.275 ) - 63 laps
3 . K. Kobayashi - Toyota TF109 - 1:20.699 (+ 1.644 ) - 79 laps
4 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:21.171 (+ 2.116 ) - 71 laps
5 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:21.292 (+ 2.237 ) - 47 laps
6 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:21.584 (+ 2.529 ) - 31 laps
7 . P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:21.831 (+ 2.776 ) - 94 laps
8 . N. Piquet - Renault R29 - 1:22.011 (+ 2.956 ) - 52 laps.
Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
The day was notable not just for the debut of the new Force India Mercedes VJM02 package with Giancarlo Fisichella behind the wheel, but also because of the high number of mechanical failures and subsequent red flag periods.
With the majority of those in action coasting to a halt at one point or another, the teams requested an extension to the 5pm local time cut-off, only to be denied. In addition, a rain shower at 2.30pm local time also complicated matters a little for the eight teams present.
New Red Bull recruit Sebastian Vettel set the pace in the new RB4 package with a best time of 1:19.055s, but the German youngster lost time with a Renault engine failure. Still, Vettel managed a respectable 87 laps of the 4.428km Spanish test venue and was a massive 1.3 seconds clear of Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F60, who also lost time after taking to a gravel trap.
Kamui Kobayashi was in action for the Toyota team – who like Ferrari and BMW Sauber are readjusting to the cooler European climate after nearly two weeks in Bahrain - and the German-based team seem to be having a relatively strong build up to the new season with the new TF109. Kobayashi posted the third fastest time ahead of Williams Toyota driver Nico Rosberg who was another driver forced to a halt with a mechanical problem in the newly liveried FW31.
Robert Kubica was fifth fastest in his BMW Sauber ahead of Fisichella in the new Mercedes-powered VJM02. The Italian veteran was however only able to complete 31 laps in the new machine, his fastest lap coming on his 22nd of the day.
Pedro de la Rosa completed the most laps of the day – 94 – but was forced to end his session a little prematurely when his McLaren Mercedes ground to a halt late in the session. The Spanish tester was seventh best on the day ahead of Nelson Piquet who also brought out the red flags late in the day as his Renault came to a halt on track.
Testing continues at Jerez on Monday.
Jerez - 01/03/2009
1 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:19.055 (+ 0.000 ) - 87 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.330 (+ 1.275 ) - 63 laps
3 . K. Kobayashi - Toyota TF109 - 1:20.699 (+ 1.644 ) - 79 laps
4 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:21.171 (+ 2.116 ) - 71 laps
5 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:21.292 (+ 2.237 ) - 47 laps
6 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:21.584 (+ 2.529 ) - 31 laps
7 . P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:21.831 (+ 2.776 ) - 94 laps
8 . N. Piquet - Renault R29 - 1:22.011 (+ 2.956 ) - 52 laps.
Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
#6
03-01-2009, 05:09 PM
Not a chance. Kimi will probably crash every race when he gets pissed that he can't keep up with Hamilton!
#7
03-01-2009, 09:16 PM
Kimi wins the championship, you rock a Kimi avatar I make.
Lewis wins the championship, I rock a Lewis avatar you make.
We good?
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