Button shakes it all up!
#1
03-12-2009, 04:54 AM
Button shakes it all up!
Testing is one thing and racing is another, but based on the times recorded in Jerez last week and so far at Circuit de Catalunya this week, Formula One could be in for a real shake-up when the season gets underway in Australia.
Jenson Button took over testing duties in the new Brawn Mercedes from Rubens Barrichello today and set the pace a cool second clear of Felipe Massa in the Ferrari. Button completed 130 laps, his fastest time of 1:19.127s coming on his 93rd tour of the day.
To put Button’s pace into perspective, Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position, albeit with race fuel on board, at the same circuit for the Spanish Grand Prix last year on a 1:21.813 while the fastest lap so far this week was a 1:20.314.
Ross Brawn and his team remarked throughout the off-season that should the team make the grid for the Australian Grand Prix, the then RA109 would be something special. We don’t know the fuel loads but looking at this week's performance and assuming nothing untoward, the BGP001 could well prove to be every bit as good as previous claims. We’ll see in Melbourne...
With Michael Schumacher again watching the progress of the Ferrari team Massa took over the test programme from Kimi Raikkonen and was second fastest in the F60 ahead of Robert Kubica who returned to the BMW Sauber cockpit today.
Timo Glock continued Toyota's impressive pre-season form with the fourth fastest time in the TF109. Fernando Alonso completed his second day of running in the Renault with the fifth fastest time on a day when team boss Flavio Briatore is reportedly unhappy with some team’s reading of the rules with regard to the rear diffuser.
Sebastian Vettel took over testing duties from Mark Webber and posted the sixth best time in the Red Bull Renault ahead of Nico Rosberg who was back on test duty for the Williams Toyota team.
Giancarlo Fisichella was eighth fastest in the new Force India Mercedes while Sebastien Buemi had his first 'proper' run in the new Ferrari-powered STR4 and was ninth fastest of the ten runners.
While Ron Dennis insists there are no major problems at McLaren Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton languished at the tail of the timesheets for much of the day before going off at turn two, damaging both ends of the so far difficult MP4-24 lightly. This brought out the red flags with about 90 minutes remaining and Hamilton ended the day slowest of all, 2.5 seconds off the ultimate pace.
With Brawn Mercedes fastest and McLaren Mercedes slowest, the final day of group testing tomorrow should be interesting....
Barcelona - 11/03/2009
1 . J. Button - Brawn GP Mercedes BGP001 - 1:19.127 (+ 0.000 ) - 130 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.168 (+ 1.041 ) - 109 laps
3 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:20.217 (+ 1.090 ) - 114 laps
4 . T. Glock - Toyota TF109 - 1:20.410 (+ 1.283 ) - 132 laps
5 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 1:20.863 (+ 1.736 ) - 107 laps
6 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:21.165 (+ 2.038 ) - 102 laps
7 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:21.324 (+ 2.197 ) - 89 laps
8 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:21.545 (+ 2.418 ) - 97 laps
9 . S. Buemi - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 1:21.569 (+ 2.442 ) - 145 laps
10 . L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:21.657 (+ 2.530 ) - 86 laps.
Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
Jenson Button took over testing duties in the new Brawn Mercedes from Rubens Barrichello today and set the pace a cool second clear of Felipe Massa in the Ferrari. Button completed 130 laps, his fastest time of 1:19.127s coming on his 93rd tour of the day.
To put Button’s pace into perspective, Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position, albeit with race fuel on board, at the same circuit for the Spanish Grand Prix last year on a 1:21.813 while the fastest lap so far this week was a 1:20.314.
Ross Brawn and his team remarked throughout the off-season that should the team make the grid for the Australian Grand Prix, the then RA109 would be something special. We don’t know the fuel loads but looking at this week's performance and assuming nothing untoward, the BGP001 could well prove to be every bit as good as previous claims. We’ll see in Melbourne...
With Michael Schumacher again watching the progress of the Ferrari team Massa took over the test programme from Kimi Raikkonen and was second fastest in the F60 ahead of Robert Kubica who returned to the BMW Sauber cockpit today.
Timo Glock continued Toyota's impressive pre-season form with the fourth fastest time in the TF109. Fernando Alonso completed his second day of running in the Renault with the fifth fastest time on a day when team boss Flavio Briatore is reportedly unhappy with some team’s reading of the rules with regard to the rear diffuser.
Sebastian Vettel took over testing duties from Mark Webber and posted the sixth best time in the Red Bull Renault ahead of Nico Rosberg who was back on test duty for the Williams Toyota team.
Giancarlo Fisichella was eighth fastest in the new Force India Mercedes while Sebastien Buemi had his first 'proper' run in the new Ferrari-powered STR4 and was ninth fastest of the ten runners.
While Ron Dennis insists there are no major problems at McLaren Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton languished at the tail of the timesheets for much of the day before going off at turn two, damaging both ends of the so far difficult MP4-24 lightly. This brought out the red flags with about 90 minutes remaining and Hamilton ended the day slowest of all, 2.5 seconds off the ultimate pace.
With Brawn Mercedes fastest and McLaren Mercedes slowest, the final day of group testing tomorrow should be interesting....
Barcelona - 11/03/2009
1 . J. Button - Brawn GP Mercedes BGP001 - 1:19.127 (+ 0.000 ) - 130 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.168 (+ 1.041 ) - 109 laps
3 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:20.217 (+ 1.090 ) - 114 laps
4 . T. Glock - Toyota TF109 - 1:20.410 (+ 1.283 ) - 132 laps
5 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 1:20.863 (+ 1.736 ) - 107 laps
6 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:21.165 (+ 2.038 ) - 102 laps
7 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:21.324 (+ 2.197 ) - 89 laps
8 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:21.545 (+ 2.418 ) - 97 laps
9 . S. Buemi - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 1:21.569 (+ 2.442 ) - 145 laps
10 . L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:21.657 (+ 2.530 ) - 86 laps.
Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
#5
03-12-2009, 09:51 AM
I can't wait for this season to begin. It seems like this is going to be another exciting one with all the new rule changes. KERS, Movable Aero, Slicks, and all the new Aero Regulations seem to be bunching up the field in testing.
#6
03-12-2009, 09:57 AM
2 more weeks!!!
#7
03-12-2009, 09:59 AM
I hope so too. Those new front wings make wheel to wheel contact, and going on off track excursions a lot more dangerous. Drivers are going to have to be a lot less sloppy this year.
#8
03-12-2009, 01:29 PM
Two weeks to go and I'll be routing for Button (kind of). Its been along time and I'm ready for the real racing season to kick off, although I'm still miffed I won't be able to make Sebring again this year.
