McLaren Test 2009
This week the Formula One teams have been testing in Portugal at the Autodromo International do Algarve, when the weather permitted.
On Monday there was heavy rain for the majority of the day in Portimao, hampering the testing session and only allowing the teams a minimum of time on track. Tuesday’s weather did not improve and the the track was deemed to be too dangerous, stopping the session an hour earlier than was scheduled.
Pedro de la Rosa was out testing the McLaren which was fitted with 2008-spec rear wing to increase the downforce on the slippery surface. La Rosa, as with all the other drivers, battled with the weather conditions for a second day, although he did manage three long stints and finished in second place.
Toyota launched the new TF109 with the Japanese test driver at the wheel Kamui Kobayahi. The team had booked exclusive track time for the new car which is featuring the new KERS system for the first time. Jarno Trulli took the reins for day two of testing finishing the third fastest of the drivers.
The Williams team unveiled it’s latest car in the morning with test driver Nico Hulkenburg in the FW31, who was said to be satisfied with the initial progress. The new car featured the ‘winter test livery’ as the 2009 livery is not set to be revealed until February.
The Scuderia Toro Rosso team kicked-off in style with Sebastien Buemi in the seat, setting the pace for the other drivers out on the sodden track on extreme wet tyres in the STR3.
Buemi was the fastest driver on both days of the first test session and despite the weather managed to evaluate three different types of tyre in one day.
Renault were another team officially launching their new car for the 2009 season, the R29 driven by Nelson Piquet on Monday and Tuesday.
Piquet’s car, allegedly stopped out on track at one stage of tuesday’s session and under the worsening weather conditions, only managed to complete nine laps.
The Ferrari team opted to test alone at Mugello but still couldn’t escape bad weather as Kimi Raikkonen took to the track in the F60 for the Monday and Tuesday sessions.
Meanwhile, the BMW Sauber team have been bathed in glorious sunshine as they ran their own test session at the Valencia circuit in Spain.
Robert Kubica in the all-new F1.09 spent most of second day on track testing tyre compounds and different brake set-ups.
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