Friday: Toro Rosso focuses on the race, Vergne learns
After this first day of testing, it seems that the Toro Rosso team is less on form than in the last two Grand Prix. Nothing too serious since the drivers are counting on a good race pace to be able to score points on Sunday.This first day was also an opportunity for Jean-Eric Vergne to make his first outing on a dry track since the rain had severely disrupted testing in Korea. The Frenchman took advantage of the experience and is determined to do even better in Brazil.
Sébastien Buemi – 12th (FP2):
It was a short day for me as I only drove in the afternoon, but I quickly got back into the groove and I feel confident for the rest of the weekend. However, we seem a bit slower than in the previous two races, which could be due to the track characteristics. Therefore, it will be important to make the most of the data collected tonight and then on the track tomorrow. On the positive side, we tried three types of tires and we have a good understanding of the softs and mediums, and I see no reason why we can’t fight for another good result on Sunday.
Jaime Alguersuari – 10th and 14th:
« I am happy with how the day went. We worked a lot, evaluated new things this morning, and tested a new Pirelli tire. It was interesting because the new compound seemed very fast. We were able to complete a large number of laps with the additional tires, and I don’t think my times are very indicative because I was in traffic the whole time. »
The overall balance of the car seems good and it appears that we should be faster in the race than in qualifying, which has often been the case this year. We should be a bit slower than in the last races but not by much, and I think we have the potential to score points on Sunday.
Jean-Eric Vergne – 11th (FP1):
« It was like a first session for me since it was raining a lot in Korea. I think the team is satisfied with my work. There was nothing exceptional, but it was what you would expect from a driver who wants to be in F1 next year. From my perspective, I think I could have done a bit better, but that’s in my nature. I don’t think being a rookie should be an excuse for not winning right away. That’s been my approach since karting, even if it doesn’t apply to F1 because of the difference between the teams. I was surprised by the high level of grip with the soft tires that I tried at the end of the session. »
« In general, the feeling with the car came back pretty quickly after my tests last year and all the time I’ve spent in the simulator this year. I wasn’t focusing on my lap times today, and it was a positive session. I learned a lot and I’ll use that to be better in Brazil, and before that, I’m looking forward to next week’s tests to drive the world champion car.
