Brawn and Button go fastest at Barcelona


By Phil Huff
March 9 2009

It's only testing, so the times may not count for much, but the very first full run of the Brawn GP BGP001 has left driver Jenson Button at the top of the timesheets as the Barcelona test breaks for lunch.

Starting the day damp, cold and cloudy, Jenson was first out on intermediate tyres. Setting a quick pace immediately, the times improved as the track conditions slowly improved. After four hours, Button had completed 30 laps, setting a best time of 1:21.140. Behind him was Toyota's Jarno Trulli, lapping the circuit 50 times, and setting a best time of 1:21.85, nearly three quarters of a second behind the Mercedes powered Brawn GP car.

World constructor champions Ferrari ended the first session in eighth place, 1.729 second behind after 25 laps, whilst Lewis Hamilton's team-mate, Heikki Kovalainen, propped up the table with a time 3.149 seconds down at the end of his 57 laps.

For a car that's had little development, a change of engine, a late build, and nothing more than a shakedown at Silverstone, it's a stunningly impressive debut.

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