Hamilton and Raikkonen lead as tests end

The four day tests at Jerez and Bahrain concluded on Friday, with the Bahrain running resumed after a two day sandstorm, and all teams starting to set some competitive lap times. In Spain, Sebastian Bourdais set a 1:17.472 in his 2008 car, whilst Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso battled it out for the fastest time [...]

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Jerez test continues and Bahrain test haulted

The four day test at Jerez continued into Thursday, with newly re-signed Sebastien Bourdais taking over the running of Toro Rosso’s 2008 car and, of course, setting the fastest time.
Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton was back in the cockpit and only just managed to keep the McLaren MP4-24 ahead of the other ‘09 cars by the [...]

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Sandstorm hits Bahrain as testing continues

The four day test in Jerez and Bahrain continued on Wednesday as, to nobodies surprise, Sebastien Buemi took to the top of the time sheets in his 2008 Toro Rosso at Jerez as he completed a full race simulation, whilst Heikki Kovalainen improved the pace from the previous day, and set the fastest time in [...]

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Tests begins at Jerez and Bahrain

Tuesday saw the latest pre-season tests begin with Toyota, Ferrari and BMW moving to Bahrain in the hope to avoid rain, and Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams, McLaren and Renault sticking in Spain. Sebastien Buemi added to his huge amount of mileage in last year’s Toro Rosso, and finished top at Jerez with his 3 [...]

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Red Bull reveal the RB5 at Jerez

Red Bull Racing unveiled their 2009 car, the RB5, at Jerez on Monday, ahead of this week’s four day test at the circuit. Drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, who has just about recovered from his broken leg, were present as Adrian Newey’s take on the 2009 regulations was presented to the media. The car [...]

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Vettel demotes Buemi at final test day of 2008

The final testing day of 2008 took place on Wednesday at both Jerez and the new Algarve circuit, with all the teams in action developing or starting to develop their 2009 car in preparation for the first car launches next month.
At Jerez, Sebastian Vettel finally beat Sebastien Buemi to the fastest time for Red Bull, [...]

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Testing continues at Jerez and Algarve

Testing continued at both Jerez and the new Algarve circuit into Tuesday, with Red Bull and McLaren remaining on top as times improved from Monday.
Sebastien Buemi was once again on top in an RB4, setting a best lap of 1:17.029 during his extended running, after stepping in for the injured Mark Webber. He was joined [...]

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Testing underway at Algarve and Jerez

The final test session of 2008 got underway today, with teams split between the location of the last test, the Jerez ciruit in Spain and the Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. The Algarve circuit, which was completed in October, held it’s first ever F1 test day.
Only McLaren and Ferrari were in action at the new [...]

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Buemi dominates Jerez test

Sebastien Buemi has given a boost to his campaign to land a Toro Rosso seat next year, by finishing fastest at all three days of the latest test at the Jerez circuit. The Toro Rossos were once again leading the time sheets, with their only slightly modified 2008 car, but Buemi shook off competition from [...]

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McLaren fastest on last day of Jerez test

The final official testing day of the 2008 season ended on Friday with Pedro de la Rosa topping the timesheets for McLaren with a best time of 1:18.992.  Nick Heidfeld finished runner-up for BMW, posting a time 0.3 seconds slower.
Lucas di Grassi and Renault remained in third, whilst Sebastian Vettel returned to Toro Rosso after [...]

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