Barcelona Dream with Brawn GP: End of Test Report

The testing that has taken place between the 9th and 12th of March has today finished at the Jerz circuit.

For the newly formed Brawn GP this was certainly a productive and encouraging four-day stint (and their first test against other members of the 2009 grid).  I don’t think the new team could have had a better first test if they tried! Did the past few days really just happen? Surely not!?

Is Brawn a wizard? (As I make clear later on by the way, I do realise that I am like a very over excited puppy at the moment, I will calm down...probably after Rally Cyprus).

The first day was like a bit of a dream really with Jenson very strong throughout.  In the early wet conditions (which Jens loves) the Brit showed everyone the potential of his new car.

After 20 laps Brawn GP were topping the time sheets (may I just take a moment here to remind you that McLaren and Ferrari were present too!!). The BBC website reported that at last year's Spanish grand prix the RA108 managed 1:22.353 and an unofficial time from day one had Jenson down as producing 1:22.414 in the Brawn car.

End of Day One: Monday the 9th of March 2009

1. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber F1.09, 1:20.338
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F60, 1:20.908
3. Jarno Trulli, Toyota TF109, 1:20.937
4. Jenson Button, Brawn BGP 001, 1:21.140
5. Nelson Piquet, Renault R29, 1:21.662
6. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso STR4, 1:22.158
7. Mark Webber, Red Bull RB5, 1:22.246
8. Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM02, 1:22.452
9. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams FW31, 1:22.813
10. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren MP4-24, 1:22.948
 
Tuesday saw Rubens Barrichello take to the new Brawn GP car and arguably I think he rather liked it! Barrichello sped through 111 laps to finish in a hugely exciting third place. The day was Kimi Raikkonen’s though with the 2007 champ toping the time sheet.

I was very pleased to see the new team so far up the sheet on day two. Last year, Honda had a few pleasing blips (I’m thinking Valencia) when Jenson finished third on Friday.

Hopefully this year will be a more consistent one! Remember that Honda started well last year only to scrap the RA108 in favour of concentrating on the the 2009 car (what a decision).

Fingers crossed if they chose to take it one season at a time from now on we might start getting some promising results.


End of Day Two: Tuesday the 10th of March 2009

1. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F60, 1:20.314
2. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams FW31, 1:20.907
3. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn BGP 001, 1:20.966
4. Jarno Trulli, Toyota TF109, 1:21.182
5. Mark Webber, Red Bull RB5, 1:21.347
6. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber F1.09, 1:21.615
7. Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM02, 1:21.834
8. Fernando Alonso, Renault R29, 1:21.937
9. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren MP4-24, 1:21.991
10. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso STR4, 1:23.039
11. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso STR4, no time

Now on Wednesday I was absolutely shattered, I’d had loads on and had just returned from a lengthy road trip. Anyway, when I returned and checked out the times for the Wednesday session I thought I was dreaming...am I still?

On Wednesday the 11th of March Jenson Button finished the day on top.  On day one Brawn GP was fourth and on day two they were third, so I must admit I was rather hoping for a P2 today. 

However, P1 was more than enough!!  Jenson put in a best time of 1m 19.127s around the Spanish track to beat the Ferrari (erm and runner up of last years championship!! Oh yeah and winner of the 2008 Constructors Championship)of Felipe Massa by over a second. 

As reported on the Autosport website Button's superb time was probably set in low-fuel qualifying trim. However, far more importantly and encouragingly, data from the rest of the test seems to show that the car can be quick on long runs and with heavy fuel, too.

Button was very encouraged by the cars performance stating, "After the challenges we have faced, to come here and get off to such an encouraging start is just what we all needed and I can't thank the team enough. All that effort has really paid off and everyone can feel very proud."

How do you think the big wigs at Honda are feeling is all I can say?  Ross Brawn was very keen to point out that the work put into this car should have produced the performances we have seen, but I would argue that everyone has been surprised by the new car’s performance. 

Can I just repeat at this point that I realise that I am being over excited (just let me have this please, I need to enjoy it while it lasts!)

End of Day Three: Wednesday the 11th of March 2009

1. Jenson Button, Brawn BGP 001, 1:19.127!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Felipe Massa, Ferrari F60, 1:20.168
3. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.09, 1:20.217
4. Timo Glock, Toyota TF109, 1:20.410
5. Fernando Alonso, Renault R29, 1:20.863
6. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB5, 1:21.165
7. Nico Rosberg, Williams FW31, 1:21.324
8. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India VJM02, 1:21.545
9. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso STR4, 1:21.569
10. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-24, 1:21.657

Whilst surfing the net waiting for Thursdays results I came across Autosport's article stating that 2006 World Champ Alonso believes Brawn GP’s pace to be real! The Spaniard sees four potential teams has having the edge at this stage (Brawn GP being one of them).

Crucially, Alonso sees Honda’s decision to look at 2009 so early last season as being a risk well taken (for the team not the manufacturer of course). Maybe all those articles I wrote last year stating that Honda would do better in 2009 will come true?  Regardless of that it is good to have a Driver of Alonso’s skill believe in Brawn GP.

Rubens took over for the final day, arguably hoping at least to equal his achievements on Tuesday. Well unfortunately for Rubens…he didn’t make P3.

The Brazilian went two better and ended the teams’ test on a total high with P1! So just to clarify: First Brawn GP seems capable of competing with the best, and second both drivers are more than comfortable driving their new car!

End of Day four: Thursday the 12th of March 2009 (sorry about the different set up I copied it from a different website)

1. Rubens Barrichello Brawn BGP 001, 00:01'18''926
2. Nico Rosberg, Williams FW31, 00:01'19''774
3. Timo Glock, Toyota TF109, 00:01'20''091
4. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB5, 00:01'20''576
5. Fernando Alonso, Renault R29,     00:01'20''664
6. Felipe Massa, Ferrari F60, 00:01'20''677
7. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.09, 00:01'20''740
8. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-24, 00:01'20''869
9. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso STR4, 00:01'21''013
10. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India VJM02, 00:01'21''045     
11. Sebastian Bourdais, Toro Rosso STR4, 00:01'21''629

And so there you go, my first ‘proper article’ on my new absolute favourite team.  After all the depressing articles I have written in the past it feels great to get this one out there!

I couldn’t have wished for a better debut test if I had tried. To be honest with you, I truly don’t care about Melbourne at the moment, I just want to sit in a comfortable chair with a cup of joe and try and take in the amazing results of the previous four days.

Ahhhh brilliant!

Hopefully the team will be just as good next week at the final pre-season test in Spain.  I look forward to reporting on it!