Eurosport - Fri, 19 Sep 12:20:00 2008
Italian Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel was the fastest at Jerez on day three of testing with Red Bull Racing, his team for 2009.
Nick Heidfeld (BMW) and Lucas di Grassi (Renault) were next fastest.
In the rain-interrupted session, Vettel's current team Toro Rosso tried out former Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato in the German's absence.
Sato was one of three Japanese in action at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain with Kamui Kobayashi testing for Toyota and regular race driver Kazuki Nakajima in a Williams.
"The team was pleased with the work he did, clearly demonstrating his previous experience in a grand prix car," Toro Rosso said in a statement after Sato lapped sixth fastest of the eight drivers.
The Ferrari-powered team won last weekend in Italy with Vettel becoming F1's youngest winner at the age of 21.
Italy-based Toro Rosso are looking for a replacement for the German, who is joining Red Bull at the end of the season when David Coulthard retires.
"At the start of the day we were collecting aero data," said Sato, who was hoping to press his claims for a race drive in 2009. "Then by the end of the morning we began timed runs, so I could really feel the car and I started to enjoy the laps.
"Unfortunately, in the afternoon it started to rain so we had to stop. That was a great shame as I was looking forward to proper running in the afternoon."
Unofficial Thursday times from Jerez:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:18.001
2. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:18.167
3. Lucas di Grassi, Renault, 1:18.999
4. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:19.281
5. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:19.499
6. Takuma Sato, Toro Rosso, 1:19.574
7. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 1:19.863
8. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:21.892
Comment 36 - 55 of 55
Vettel is superb for his age and one day he will be roaring his way to the title in one of the prancing horses, with Schumi in his pit box
I wonder if he has taken his car home to show his mum yet..
Good driver he may be, but his mum's gonna kill him if he doesn't tidy his room soon.
It's wonderful that one so young (and he looks even younger) is doing so well!
I take my hat off to him, he's like a kid just out of school out-driving all the old prancing horses. Just what F1 needs.
Vettel is doing great. I can´t wait till the outcome of the 22nd n the coming grand prix.. hope 4 a great race n not a Valencia type of race.
to dogbiscuit2001
And what is really bothering u about his age? Is it because that already at his young age he is faster then any other driver?
dogbiscuit2001: Vettel does indeed look very young and yes, he can drive very very well, like a consumate pro. I noticed that these two factors have caused a "little" unrest around the certain Macca's fans and it's easy to understand why.
Is it just me or does Vettel look not a day over 14? Does he have a driver's licence? Does his mum know he drives fast cars? How come he gets all the time off school?
It mst be annoying. There you are trying to show everyone how clever you are about F1 and on comes some idiot who's not taking it all seriously enough.
Hey, if someone is writing nonsense, please do not respond. By responding, you are creating a thread of nonsense post. I have already reported abuse on some of you and I won't hesitate to do it again in future. It is frustrating to read nonsense when you expect some respectable post.
I'm guessing there is little point in discussing the news story anymore is there, the thread has been hijacked, and a village somewhere is dearly missing him.
As ithought ginger gitt may be part of all this. His racial overtones in comments posted have been unfortunate to say the least. This blog has virtually nothing to with Formula 1 now, it is a joke!!!
No I'm not in on the scam. Personally I wish the moderators at yahoo would do their bloody jobs properly and get rid of those idiots. I do my best to ignore them and usually stop reading threads once the primary school starts using it
please ginger gitt, tell me you are not in on this scam as well are you?
sparrow, carosphea and ulickmagee are either one of the same or 3 idiots going on to blogs and wrecking them. they all appear together continually. i personally think they are all one and the same - they are the common denominator-just look back at old posts. guy(s,it aint big it aint clever so LEAVE.
sparrow & ulickmagee: its good to know someone reads my posts and respects my opinion. I, like most I'm sure, can tolerate the bias postings on here from Ferrari fanatics (not to pick on them, but the majority of bias posts are Ferrari supporters), and even the occasional inane comment. But I wish the moderators would permanently ban idiots like jbolan who do nothing but spout @#$%. I could't use the term m.o.n.i.k.e.r because of idiots like that incase it was a misspelt racial slur, yet he (and idiots like him) keep posting @#$% with immunity. I thought this was an F1 discussion site myself, not a place for the retarded to force their bile upon us!
Not a squeak from the Peruvian Rat - Oh maybe he is in bed and carposha is posting for him!
Hey jbolan - That was quick! I rest my case.
sparrow you is the rat. i is an englisman an jbolan is the peruvian gentleman with honour. he no lie like bad boy forza. i not your frien forza you no come my house with my gals also. jacko like lewis and the bigeys an edmurphy we is friens also and we come to my house an party with the white gals from englan an maybe jbolan com over from peru an be ther also he so far away sad
Hi Forza. I think I have the Peruvian Rat cornered. CARPOSHA came back real quick denying that he was the same person as JBOLAN. I didn't see Ulickmagee denying that he was Carposha! Come to think of it, if Ulickmagee and Carposha were the same person why would carposha post that he is not jbolan - If they were the same person it would make more sense if carposha said he WAS jbolan. Jbolan you are caught out!
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