The second day of winter testing got underway this morning at Circuit de Catalunya with Pedro de la Rosa and Force India making headlines as the Spanish veteran tested with the Silverstone-based team for the first time.
De la Rosa - currently McLaren's test and reserve driver - has been linked to a seat with the team for next season, but at 37 years of age this seems an unlikely proposition. More likely is that the team will use de la Rosa's vast testing experience as they introduce McLaren-Mercedes components ahead of the 2009 season.
Back on track, all but the Toyota team were back in action with Takuma Sato's best lap of 1:20.763s recorded yesterday being beaten by Sebastian Vettel as he acclimatised to his new seat at Red Bull Renault. Vettel completed 70 laps, despite overheating brakes, with a best time of 1:19.751s. His best lap coming on his 51st tour of the day.
Behind Vettel, Toro Rosso Ferrari drivers aced positions two through four as the team continue to run a relatively standard-spec STR3 package. Sato impressed again for the team with the second fastest time while Sebastien Bourdais was less than two-hundredths of a second slower. Sebastien Buemi was fourth, a couple of tenths shy of Sato and Bourdais.
Gary Paffett split his programme with McLaren Mercedes today, as an oil leak forced the British tester from the KERS equipped MP4-23K to the standard package in the afternoon. Paffett's best lap placed him fifth overall.
BMW Sauber continued with the interim F1.08 featuring 2009 wings and slick tyres. Christian Klien today became the first driver to publically state what was is undoubtedly on the mind of anyone connected with the sport. The interim 2009-spec cars are really ugly... Klien was not running today however as the team relied on regular racer drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld to post the sixth and 14th best times of the day.
Nico Rosberg took over testing duties in the interim Williams Toyota from tester Nico Hulkenberg. Rosberg was seventh best ahead of Jenson Button who tried out the new 2009-spec front wing and slick tyres for Honda.
Adrian Sutil led the way for the Force India Ferrari team with the ninth best time while de la Rosa was slowest on the day in 15th as he gets to grips with what is a new car to him.
Lucas Di Grassi was back out in the second Honda with Bruno on the sidelines today, recording the tenth best time ahead of Nelson Piquet in the trimmed out R28. Luca Badoer completed the most laps of the day in his Ferrari, 127, on the way to 12th ahead of fellow Ferrari tester Marc Gene.
De la Rosa - currently McLaren's test and reserve driver - has been linked to a seat with the team for next season, but at 37 years of age this seems an unlikely proposition. More likely is that the team will use de la Rosa's vast testing experience as they introduce McLaren-Mercedes components ahead of the 2009 season.
Back on track, all but the Toyota team were back in action with Takuma Sato's best lap of 1:20.763s recorded yesterday being beaten by Sebastian Vettel as he acclimatised to his new seat at Red Bull Renault. Vettel completed 70 laps, despite overheating brakes, with a best time of 1:19.751s. His best lap coming on his 51st tour of the day.
Gary Paffett split his programme with McLaren Mercedes today, as an oil leak forced the British tester from the KERS equipped MP4-23K to the standard package in the afternoon. Paffett's best lap placed him fifth overall.
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Nico Rosberg took over testing duties in the interim Williams Toyota from tester Nico Hulkenberg. Rosberg was seventh best ahead of Jenson Button who tried out the new 2009-spec front wing and slick tyres for Honda.
Adrian Sutil led the way for the Force India Ferrari team with the ninth best time while de la Rosa was slowest on the day in 15th as he gets to grips with what is a new car to him.
Lucas Di Grassi was back out in the second Honda with Bruno on the sidelines today, recording the tenth best time ahead of Nelson Piquet in the trimmed out R28. Luca Badoer completed the most laps of the day in his Ferrari, 127, on the way to 12th ahead of fellow Ferrari tester Marc Gene.