Jerez Day 3 – Bourdais in front but Hamilton is the real leader

The reigning champion Lewis Hamilton was the fastest among drivers driving a 2009 car during the penultimate day of testing at the Jerez circuit.

But the Briton faced very strong opposition from Red Bull through Sebastian Vettel. The German finished with just a 0.001-second lead over the MP4/24. The RB5 continues to show its full potential on this fourth day of testing for the Austrian team.

Sébastien Bourdais for Toro Rosso was doing his first tests as he has just been confirmed for the 2009 season. He, like Buemi, was the fastest today with a 2008 version single-seater. He is two seconds ahead of Hamilton.

The McLaren driver, who took over from his teammate Heikki Kovalainen, completed 93 laps at the wheel of the MP4-24. He expressed his joy after his day of work.

« Today, this test allowed me to drive the MP4-24 in warm weather and dry conditions for the first time. I am quite satisfied with how I feel, » said the reigning world champion.

The car is reliable and very similar to last year’s, in fact. It doesn’t take long to get used to the new buttons in the cockpit. The real challenge for everyone now is to understand the behavior of the tires before the first race in Melbourne next month.

Vettel completed just one less lap than the Briton. He continued the development of the new Red Bull.

The German finishes ahead of Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima and Fernando Alonso in the Renault. The Spaniard is the driver who covered the most kilometers today with 133 laps.

Results private testing Spain – Jerez – Thursday, February 12, 2009: