Barcelona Day 2 – Vettel leads, Bourdais behind Sato

For the second day of private testing in Barcelona (Spain), it is the young Sebastian Vettel who recorded the best time. The German was driving a Red Bull RB4 for the first time with his new team for 2009. Sato, first yesterday, is second today with the Toro Rosso STR03. Bourdais, competing with the latter, is third by a few thousandths.

Sebastian Vettel delivered a very good performance. The German, who left Toro Rosso a few days ago, completed his first kilometers in a Red Bull Racing car. Proving that the two cars are very similar, Vettel immediately found his bearings in the RB4. He is the only driver to have broken the 80-second lap mark.

On the technical side, it was in the 2008 aerodynamic version but with slick tires. On the reliability side, it was a tough day in Barcelona, and Vettel’s brakes couldn’t handle it. They caught fire in the pit lane, forcing the mechanics to use fire extinguishers…

At Toro Rosso, three drivers were being tested today. The goal is to find the best line-up for 2009. Sato continues to impress and achieves the second-best performance of the day, a quarter of a second behind Vettel. The Japanese driver thus makes a case for 2009. In competition, Bourdais finishes third, 17 thousandths of a second behind Takuma Sato.

Toro Rosso achieves a tight grouping and places its last test driver, Sébastien Buemi, in 4th position. It goes without saying that the STR03s are all in 2008 configuration for these Spanish tests.

Gary Paffett is fifth with the McLaren-Mercedes. The team has made few changes but remains with the 2009 aero requirements. The German is ahead of Robert Kubica (BMW), still with the car that is visually closest to the 2009 cars.

“Of course, we are losing a lot of support compared to the 2008 car,” commented Kubica. “But because we can put the slick tires back on, we have significantly increased grip in the corners.”

« So, with a little more development, I don’t think there will be too much of a difference between the 2009 and 2008 single-seaters. »

BMW even added a mini shark fin to the hybrid F1.08. A complete report will be made on the features of the new BMW.

Williams places Nico Rosberg’s FW30 in 7th position. The German drove a hybrid single-seater, with many modifications to the 2008 version and the first test of the KERS.

Button is in the top 8 for Honda. He tested a hybrid RA108 with the front and rear wing meeting the 2009 regulations. He is just ahead of Sutil’s Force India. The other Force India is last (16th) with the Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa. The McLaren test driver was invited by Force India… even though the Indian team’s engine is still a Ferrari.

The Renault team worked with Nelson Piquet and Giedo van der Garde, winner of the WSR by Renault. The two men focused primarily on collecting data from the slick tires.

Ferrari, on the other hand, tested the gearbox and engine reliability. Luca Badoer and Marc Gené are 12th and 13th, respectively.

Finally, Luca Di Grassi completed a second day of testing with Honda. He finished 10th, very close to Button.

Results of Private Testing in Barcelona – Day 2: