Buzzin F1 – Formula One Blog

Renault 2009

Eight of the Formula One teams resumed testing at Jerez in Spain on Monday with unfavourable weather conditions and  a mass of red flags produced after many of the drivers came to a halt on track as mechanical failures occurred on the 2009 cars.

Although the teams were compromised by a shower on the Monday afternoon, the majority managed to put in plenty of laps as they each evaluated their 2009 packages.

Force India also choose the day to reveal their brand new 2009 car, the VJM02, with Giancarlo Fisichella at the wheel.  Fisichella set the sixth quickest time of the day despite the car suffering from a fuel system problem early in the session.  The Italian continued on his second day of testing recording the fourth fastest time of the day and also successfully tested the extreme wet tyres and also a standard wet tyre.  The car suffered a fuel system problem during the morning session but was back on track to resume testing later in the day.

It was Sebastian Vettel that set the opening days pace in the Red Bull, but later came to halt with engine failure on the new RB4.  Again on day two, the driver was stranded out on track and finished down in fifth place as problems continued with his car.

Williams driver Nico Rosberg was another victim on the first day of the testing session as his new FW31 package also failed out on track along with Nelson Piquet in the Renault.  Rosberg continued on the second day and set an impressive 114 laps out on track while finishing in third place.

Piquet remained behind the wheel for day two, concentrating on adding mileage to the R29 but he was the slowest of the seven drivers out on track in dismal weather conditions.

Kamui Kobayashi was out on circuit on his first real try out of the new TF109 in the dry, where he worked on an aerodynmic evaluation programme, putting in a solid 79 laps.  On Tuesday, Timo Glock took over the reins and took his place at the top of the time-sheets despite an off into the gravel in the morning session.

Felipe Massa took the Scuderia Ferrari F60 on it’s debut run at the Jerez track, working on reliability and set-up’s.  Massa managed to set the second fastest time of the day and completed 63 laps for the team.  He did however, take a trip through the gravel trap midway through the session, fortunately not damaging the car.  The Ferrari team opted to sit out of the second test day after the heavy rain and are expected to return to the track for the third day of testing on Wednesday.

Robert Kubica in the BMW Sauber had his track time reduced on the first day after the team decided to change the engine after a problem was discovered.  As Kubica resumed his duties a shower began and the team opted to change the tyre testing programme to race start simulations.  Kubica continued testing on day two and finished in second place although earlier the wet weather seemed to be setting off a false electrical alarm which once again saw him stuck out on the circuit.

The McLaren Mercedes was being driven by Pedro de la Rosa who was evaluating tyres and completed 94 laps before developing an oil pressure problem just before the end of the session.  On the Tuesday, Heikki Kovalainen took charge to take fifth place.