UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Badoer tops test day 1

Test drivers get a run

Rain affected the closing stages of testing on Thursday at the Catalunya Circuit, but this did not stop the expected front-runners from showing their pace.

Form is well known at the track that hosts both numerous tests and the Spanish Grand Prix, hence it was no surprise to see Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer at the top of the time sheets.

Badoer’s time of 1:22.412 was set during the morning and came as the Italian focused on aerodynamic changes for the upcoming French and British Grands Prix, and he was shaded by two-tenths of a second by Canadian GP winner Robert Kubica in the BMW F1.08.

David Coulthard and Sebastien Buemi enjoyed half a day each at the wheel of the Red Bull RB4, and emerged third and fourth fastest at the close of play, while Gary Paffet – in the McLaren – and Anthony Davidson, here driving for Honda, made up the top six.

Contrary to our report yesterday, Williams were present at the test with Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel, the young German turning in a creditable seventh quickest of the day, while in another change to the published schedule of yesterday morning Roman Grosjean – GP Asia Champion and main series regular – had his first day testing an F1 car at the wheel of the Renault. This does not bode well for Nelson Piquet, who needs as much time in the car as he can get.

Final runner was Kamui Kobayashi for Toyota.

We understand changes for the second day of testing are that Pedro de la Rosa takes over from Paffet in the McLaren, Timo Glock – fresh from fourth place in Canada – runs for Toyota, Nico Rosberg replaces his namesake Hulkenberg at Williams, Piquet gets a day at Renault, Rubens Barrichello will driver the Honda and STR join the fun with Sebastien Bourdais at the wheel. David Coulthard is in the Red Bull this morning, but may split the day, as yesterday, and Force India are absent.

Written: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:29:41