Toro Rosso's
Sebastian Vettel topped the times on Friday at
Jerez as the final F1 test session of the year drew to a close.
Vettel, who completed 100 laps in total, set his best time in the afternoon, while evaluating the 2009 spec Bridgestone slick tyres. His quickest effort, a 1 minute 18.213 second lap, was the fastest of the week. He was also quick in the morning too though, when he was concentrating on rear suspension work and when he posted a 1m 18.7s lap.
Sebastien Bourdais meanwhile was on track in the sister STR-02, but he spent all day on the grooved tyres. His best was a 1m 20.033s, which left him ninth on the timesheets. The ex-Champ Car man focused on evaluating dampers in the morning and then assessing different mechanical set-ups in the afternoon.
"This has been a very productive test, the longest of the year for us, with two cars running for four days," commented STR chief engineer, Laurent Mekies. "During that time there were no driver errors, we completed a high mileage - a total of 577 laps, equivalent to 2552 kilometres - and made good progress with the 2008 systems."
Robert Kubica, who was fastest on day 3, was 'best of the rest' for
BMW Sauber. The Pole, who celebrated his 23rd birthday today, did 119 laps in total, the most of any one runner. Like Vettel he used the slick tyres, as well as doing set-up work for the 2008 electronics and some development on the mechanical side.
Williams'
Nico Rosberg and
Kazuki Nakajima came in third and fifth respectively, split by around eight tenths of a second.
Nakajima was happy with his running this week: "It was a good test for us as we tried out many different set-up options," he noted. "The mileage I've covered this week has given me more valuable time in the car in preparation for next year so I am happy."
Williams test team manager, Dickie Stanford was also pleased: "Today was our last day of testing of the year," he added. "Between them,
Nico Rosberg,
Kazuki Nakajima and
Nico Hulkenberg managed to complete all the development work on our agenda over the four days and covered 2,085kms. We also had a successful first outing on the slick tyres today. Everyone on the test team has done a great job this year and we thank them for all their hard work over the season."
Sandwiched between the two FW29's was multiple world champion Michael Schumacher, who was four tenths off Rosberg in the
Ferrari F2007. Schumacher focused on the development of new electronic components, as well as carrying out tyre testing aimed at 2009.
After that
Toyota's
Timo Glock was sixth, with
Felipe Massa seventh, Bourdais eighth and
Jarno Trulli ninth in the other TF107.
Both Glock and Trulli ran with the slick tyres and Jarno also had stints with reduced downforce in preparation for the 2009 regulation changes. In addition, Timo continued work on aerodynamic and mechanical set-up while Jarno gathered more information on the standard ECU.
