Formula One news

De la Rosa ends final day in the Algarve on top

On the final day of testing of the year McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa was the fastest of the two drivers testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. De la Rosa completed his lap in 1.28.993 while Luca Badoer set his fastest lap in 1.30.163.

Wednesday was the third and final day of testing at the brand new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit in Portugal and the final day of testing for the Formula 1 teams in 2008. The final outing of the year allowed the McLaren team to significantly improve its understanding of an interim 2009 aerodynamic package and KERS device. Both more reliable and more powerful, drivers have already begun refining the utilisation of KERS under braking and Pedro finished the test feeling very confident in the big steps taken with the system. Similarly, the engineers have gained considerable insight into optimal employment of KERS around a lap.

At Ferrari Luca Badoer was the last driver to sit at the wheel of the F2008 this year. The Scuderia's official test driver completed the planned programme at the first ever Formula 1 test session at this new Portuguese circuit, working on finding the best set-up for the car on the 2009 slick tyres. He also evaluated new solutions for next season and on endurance testing of the engine.

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