Williams Quicker?.... Brawn GP

Well Nakajima has today lowered the time set by Jenson even further with a 1:17.494 (.350 quicker) however it seems to have been achieved by a very low fuelled car in a a bare minimum of laps (Qually trim) this seems to have took its toll on the Williams car though as shortly afterwards Nakajima stopped out on circuit and the session was red flagged while the car was recovered.

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A Hello from Rubens - Brawn GP

From Jerez testing, Rubens obviously wanted to show his appreciation to the crowd.

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17th March - Jerez Testing - Brawn GP

Good Morning Brawn GP fans, sorry for the lack of coverage yesterday, but we all need a day off eh? This is the last opportunity for us to put some mileage on the car before Melbourne. We had our first low of the season yesterday when a gearbox let go on Jenson only 12 laps into his test time. Lets remember though that this is our first issue with the car and everyone else has had issues too. At least it happened now and not at Melbourne.

17.00 - Thats it now until Melbourne, we covered a total of 114 laps today with a staggering 1:17.844 lap included. Please keep checking back on the blog for more news throughout the week.

16.43 - Jenson has returned to the pits after doing another 8 consecutive laps all of which were around 1:19.3

15.50 - Looks like Jenson might go out for a longer stint this time and put in some mileage, he's running in the 1.19's

15.13 - Jenson has been practising pit stops with the team over the last few laps

15.02 - Jenson returns to the circuit after the incident with Rosberg has cleared.

13.42 - Jenson has continued to post laps times, nothing over 1,21's he has now completed 75 laps.

11.21 - Jenson completes another 7 laps all in the 1.18's

10.50 - Another quick one: 1:17.844 and into the pits next time around

10.38 - Well Jenson beats Nico to that one entering back to back laps in the 1.17's with a 1:17:979 & 1:17:937

10.23 - Jenson returns to the garage after 5 laps

10.22 - Jenson improves with a 1:18.578 looks like a dogfight between Jens and Nico to get into the 1.17's

10.16 - Not Brawn GP news but Rosberg has just beaten the lap record (I think) with a 1:18.071!

10.18 - Jenson into the 1.18's with a 1:18.709

9.41 - After running a few more 1:19's button returns to the pits

9.36 - He then continues to stamp his authority with a 1:19:611 and 1:19:265.

9.33 - Followed by a 1:19.747

9.30 - Into 1st with a 1:20.905

9.28 - Jenson returns to the circuit after a short absence.

9.10 - Jensons first time of the day - 1:31.1.97

9.04 - Jenson starts his installation laps along with Lewis, The Mclaren is today sporting a rear diffuser painted in green slime (to indicate airflow presumably) Another team for Flavio to moan about at Melbourne then.

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Testing Analysis - Brawn GP

It appears that we may come across the wrath of Flavio and the others teams come Melbourne, Sour grapes? Pretty much in my opinion. Unfortunately for the Renault etc Ross and the team have found a loophole in the regulations to allow a rear diffuser. It is not only the diffuser that is giving us the pace, that is just part of the complex design behind the car diverting the air to the diffuser. The last few test days have been insightful in such a way that we are consistantly quicker than the opposition even if they are running a diffuser too. Against Hulkenberg yesterday we were still nearly 800's of a second quicker. In my opinion it's not only the diffuser making this huge time difference. All we can really say is that at Melbourne the flag drops and the bullshit stops. Today was our first problem encountered during the tests with a gearbox problem encountered by Jenson.

Can't wait for tomorrow's test. Should be interesting.

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16th March - Testing Jerez - BrawnGP

Hi Brawn GP fans, sorry I haven't been around this morning to keep it live but it's my day off and I needed a lie in......

This mornings session kicked off with Rubens posting a phenomenal time of 1:18.398 which he is yet to beat, having now covered 62 laps.

Jenson has taken to the seat for this afternoons session his best run has been a 1:18.892 completing 12 laps

Quickest time of the day came from Fernando in the form of 1:18.343

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15th March - Jerez Testing - Brawn GP

Good morning Brawn GP Fans, today the team is at Jerez focusing on the last few days of testing before all the teams converge on Melbourne.

New livery has appeared on the rear section of the car, not sponsorship but the logo.

Rumour around the paddock is that Fernando's Renault had a suspension failure

Don't be scared to let us know what your thinking and post on the blog!

17.00 - And that concludes the session, thank you for visiting the site today and please keep checking back for updates. I'll do an analysis post later too. Rubens completed 121 laps today and his best time was 1:21.235 posted in the latter laps of the session

16.37 - Rubens returns to the pits putting in a time of 1:20.019 on his last round

16.34 - Rubens is now the only one on the circuit and is back down in the 1.19's

16.02 - Rubens has now completed 89 laps for the day and is lapping mid 1:20's to early 1.21's

15.25 - He follows that with 1:22:100, 1:19:827 & 1:19.236 fastest of the day again.

15.17 - Rubens heads back out and continues where he left off, posting 1:21:030 & 1:19:996

15.03 - Engines are being fired up in the pit lane again. We will be able to draw some comparisons at the end of the day as Renault have got Fernando under way again.

13.20 - Return to the pits for what I can imagine will be a break having covered a substantial quanitity of laps

13.15 - Running in the low 1.20's

12.58 - Rubens now consistantly high 1.19's to low 1.20's

12.50 - Rubens busts into the 1.19's with a 1:19.808

12.44 - Rubens returns to the track

12.35 - Rubens posts 1:20:703, 1:20:700 and 1:20:598 and returns to the garage.

12.18 - Rubens is out again to put some more mileage on the BGP001 and posts 1:22:378, 1:20:516 and 1:20:114 the latter being the best time of the day again

12.10 - Rubens returns to the pits after 10 successful laps posting in the low to mid 1.21's

12.02 - Round again for the fastest time of the day 1:20.124

12.01 - 1:20:703 & 1:20:418 posted

11.55 - Rubens posts a 1:23:698 & 1:22:825

11.51 - Rubens comes to the pit exit again for a mock start

11.45 - Hulkenberg the only driver out there

11.27 - Rubens now has 30 laps under his belt.

11.17 - After putting in a 1:20.812 Rubens returns to the pits after 8 completed laps in that stint (20 in total)

11.13 - Rubens is getting used to Jerez 1:20:507, 1:20:905 & 1:20:396

10.59 - Rubens is posting some fast times and goes fastest again with a 1:21.734 he is now consistantly in the 1:21's - Nico Hulkenberg isn't far behind in the Williams though.

10.55 - Rubens completes in 1:28:493, 1:22:532 and 1:21:988.

10.51 - Rubens is back on the pace with 1:23:462 and 1:22:823.

10.50 - Rubens places himself at the pit exit to mock a standing start

10.48 - The session resumes with Fernando's stricken car heading back to the pits.

10.32 - It was a nose cone that came off of Fernando's car so we should be back in the action soon

10.13 - Red Flag - Alonso has been involved in an incident we must now wait for the track to be cleared.

10.08 - Rubens beats his previous time marginally 1:21.846

10.05 - Into his fourth lap he posts a 1:21.876

10.01 - First time of the day coming through from Rubens 1:24.487

9.40 - We out, but don't complete a lap and come back to the pits

9.00 - Start time

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YouTube clips of the Brawn GP car in testing

I have re added this post as for some reason the commenting had been turned off on the last post.

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A few YouTube clips of the Brawn GP Car for you

I've reposted this as for some reason comments have been disabled in this blog post

See here instead:

http://brawngp.blogspot.com/2009/03/youtube-clips-of-brawn-gp-car-in.html

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Roll on Sunday - Brawn GP - Jerez Testing

While some teams have wrapped up their testing and will converge at Melbourne, Brawn GP, McLaren, Renault and Williams are all heading for Jerez for a few more days testing.

How will the guys fair at Jerez? Will we see more of that blistering pace? More Race Simulations? Whatever it is i'm sure the media will have their beady eyes glued to the Brawn GP car.

As usual I'll be keeping you as upto date as I can so keep checking in.....

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Testing Round Up - Barcelona - 9th to 12th March

With the first set of tests under our belts we have now had chance to see the BRAWNGP car in action. Jenson and Rubens have put it through it's paces with both of them doing Race simulations too. There are several things to take away from the test:

The car has proved to be fast and from Rubens and Jensons comments it also drives precisely too, unlike the other dogs they have been dragging around since 2005.

9th March - Jenson - Fastest Lap = 1:21.140 - 82 laps completed
10th March - Rubens - Fastest Lap = 1:20.966 - 111 laps completed
11th March - Jenson - Fastest Lap = 1:19.127 - 124 laps completed (Race Simulation completed)
12th March - Rubens - Fastest Lap = 1:18.926 - 110 laps completed (Race Simulation completed)

So what does this data tell us about the car?

• We can safely assume we aren't sandbagging and a simply just getting on with the job in hand.
• We aren't running KERS (A fair choice I would say as with limited testing time before Melbourne KERS is one more thing to worry about)
• Jenson & Rubens still have it, they are pushing the BGP001 to it's limits
• Perhaps we have a better front wing setup than the others? This with it's twice a lap adjustability could save us masses of time over the others IF it is better.
• Consistency - Look at the Race Simulation times and we are in the late 1.21's, early 1.22's which is obviously indicative of a race fueled car.
• Reliability - While other cars have fell off the circuit the BGP001 has kept pounding on

So what does this all mean for the team and us the fans?

Well for starters, it looks like finally a year back towards the front of the pack. A great battle between Jenson and Rubens should emerge, both worthy in my opinion of winning races and inevitably winning the Championship.

How does this effect the other teams/rest of the world?

Well Honda for starters look vindicated in their abandonment of the 08 season and although they decided to sell to please their shareholders they have to take some credit for the development of the current car. McLaren will probably be looking worriedly over their shoulder, if the BGP001 can out perform their car perhaps Mercedes may have some questions for them. However it wouldn't be the 1st time a customer powered car had out performed it's own branded car. Looking at the cars raw pace and it's glittering media presence anybody wishing to enter the world of F1 via sponsorship would be silly to overlook the team.



So what are your thoughts on what we have seen so far? And our prospects for the Season?

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12th March - Brawn GP - Testing - Barcelona

Right and now to the final day of testing at Barcelona ahead of this years F1 Season opener at Melbourne.

17.00 - That concludes the test at Barcelona the standings for today are as follows:

Barrichello (BrawnGP BGP001)-1:18.926-110 laps
Rosberg (Williams FW31)-1:19.774-120 laps
Glock (Toyota TF109)-1:20.091-127 laps
Vettel (Red Bull RB5)-1:20.576 -82 laps
Alonso (Renault R29)-1:20.664-62 laps
Massa (Ferrari F60)-1:20.677-92 laps
Kubica (BMW-Sauber F1.09)-1:20.740-133 laps
Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes MP4-24)-1:20.869-70 laps
Buemi (Toro Rosso STR04)-1:21.013-62 laps
Fisicella (Force India VJM02)-1:21.045-138 laps
Bourdais (Toro Rosso STR04)-1:21.629)-27 laps

16.32 - Rubens has now pushed through the 1.18's with a 1:18.926 surely it proves at least the BGP001 isn't being sandbagged. Is this difference between a well setup car and a KERS enabled car?

16.15 - He is really putting the BGP001 through it's paces now with a 1:19.103

16.04 - Rubens improves again 1:19.196

15.43 - Rubens has now comlpleted 78 laps and takes the top spot with a 1:19.626 & next lap betters it with a 1:19.266

Rosberg (Williams FW31) -1:19.774 -54 laps
Barrichello (BrawnGP BGP001)-1:19.971-74 laps
Vettel (Red Bull RB5)-1:20.678 -48 laps
Massa (Ferrari F60)-1:20.702-50 laps
Kubica (BMW-Sauber F1.09)-1:20.740-70 laps
Glock (Toyota TF109)-1:20.928-68 laps
Buemi (Toro Rosso STR04)-1:21.013-62 laps
Alonso(Renault R29)-1:21.045-63 laps
Fisicella (Force India VJM02)-1:21.276-42 laps
Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes MP4-24)-1:21.717-29 laps

13.00 - Morning session expires

12.42 - Rubens pits to end his race simulation

12.00 - It appears Rubens is now in race simulation as Jenson did yesterday and is running in the high 21's to early 22's.

11.48 - Rubens betters it again with a 1:19.971 after 32 laps

11.35 - Rubens goes 2nd with a 120.415

11.07 - Rubens rejoins the track.

10.36 - The fog lifted around 10.15 but still no signs of Rubens

Everyone's being a bit cautious until the fog lifts


9.26 - Rubens has done a few in and outs, maybe just adjusting his setup.

9.14 - Everyone on circuit except for Rubens

9.00 - Session Commences

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11th March - BRAWN GP - Testing Barcelona

Sorry for the late start!

Jenson is back in the seat today....

17.00 - The session is complete and Jenson ends the day top of the table on a 1:19.127 covering 124 Laps

15.00 - Jenson leads the times again breaking into the 1.19's with a 1:19.127 covering 94 laps

13.00 - Lunchtime break and Massa now leads the field on 1:20.68

12.08 - Jenson still tops the chart with his 1:20.313 and has now completed 86 laps

11.53 - Jenson still running in simulation and running anywhere around late 1.30's

11.17 - Jenson must be running the full GP simulation as he is still out there running low to mid 1:21's

11.15 - Jenson is still the quickest out there with a 1:20.313 and has completed 53 laps.

10.46 - Still out there consistently hitting mid 1.21's

10.07 - Another quick one 1:20.313 and he's the quickest out there

10.06 - Jenson puts in a great one 1:20.749

9.47 - Back out on circuit

9.17 - Jenson in pits.

9.16 - More progression 1:23.790

9.14 - 1:25.363

9.09 - First time of the day 1:43.713 and Jenson then returns to the pits

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10th March - BRAWN GP - Testing Barcelona

Day 2 of the last pre season test commenced this morning. Rubens will take charge of the BGP001 today.

I can't say for sure but apparently we are running without KERS at present.

I'll try to keep you updated with Ruben's progress throughout the day...

17.00 - Thats the end of day 2's testing. Rubens completes the day in 3rd with a 1:20.966 completing 111 laps - Jenson should be back in the test seat for tomorrow's session.

16.53 - Rubens heads for the pits

16.51 - Rubens heads to the pits for some practice refueling then heads back onto the circuit.

16.38 - Rubens is pumping in some consistant 1.21's

16.07 - Rubens pits

16.06 - Rubens puts it in at 1:21.776

15.56 - Rubens is consistantly in the 1:21's

15.25 - Rubens returns to the pits.

15.21 - Rubens returns to the track.

And that concludes the morning session. The interim times are as follows:

Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) -1:20.314-44 laps
Barrichello (BrawnGP BGP001)-1:20.966-57 laps
Trulli (Toyota TF109)-1:21.326-54 laps
Alonso (Renault R29)-1:21.937-58 laps
Heidfeld (BMW-Sauber F1.09)-1:21.965-84 laps
Sutil (Force India VJM02)-1:22.141-41 laps
Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes MP4-24)-1:22.328-1:22.328-42 laps
Webber (Red Bull RB5)-1:22.517-40 laps
Nakajima (Williams FW31)-1:22.381-29 laps
Bourdais (Toro Rosso STR04)-1:23.039-14 laps

12.52 - He smashes it again with a 1:20.966

12.49 - Rubens posts his fastest lap 1:21.093

12.40 - Rubens returns to the track

12.08 - Rubens improves again 1:21.122 and then pits

11.58 - Rubens makes a marginal improvement 1:22.654 but Kimi has gone in front on a 1:20.869

11.23 - Rubens sticks it in first with a 1:21.665

11.13 - Rubens must be putting the BGP001 through it's paces now placing it 2nd on a 1:22.183

11.09 - Rubens puts the BGP001 into 3rd with a 1:22.240. He had previously turned in 1:23.578, 1:23.277 and 1:23.584.

10.37 - Rubens posts a provisional time of 1:23.765 and has completed 15 laps

10.31 - Rubens comes back onto the circuit

9.58 - Rubens returns to the pits

9.12 - Rubens takes to the Circuit for the 1st time

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9th March - Testing - BRAWNGP - Barcelona

Apart from the Silverstone shakdown last week the BGP001 has been left in the shade in terms of testing. So what would the first real test of the car show? Well testing is never going to give any real indication as to race performance as teams as till developing, fine tuning or even sand bagging their cars. However aside from that Jenson showed that the car does have a competitive chance notching up a 121.140 and pushed the car through 82 laps to contest its reliabilty. That put the BGP001 fourth fastest for the day with Nick Heidfeld topping the chart on a 120.338.

Button commented:

"We have enjoyed a positive opening day of running at our first test," "We did experience a problem with the gearbox late in the day but we knew we might face some reliability issues in view of our lack of testing. ... It's early days yet, but generally it has been a positive start to our pre-season preparations."

Rubens will continue testing on Tuesday (10th March)

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