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The potent pace of the Brawn BGP 001 continued to impress at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday, as this week’s multi-team test - the last before the season opening Australian Grand Prix later this month - drew to a close.
Rubens Barrichello finished fastest in the newly-launched car, clocking a best time of 1m 18.926s to finish eight-tenths of a second ahead of Williams’ Nico Rosberg.
“I’m very pleased with the mileage that we have achieved today and the completion of another full race distance,” Barrichello said after 110 trouble-free laps.
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“The qualifying exercises were also very useful in enabling the team and I to get fully up to speed and ready for Melbourne.
“The car has proved fast and reliable throughout the week so we go to Jerez feeling positive and pleased with the results of our first test outing.”
While Brawn GP can build on its impressive progress at Jerez next week before flying out to the Australian Grand Prix, there is no such luxury for six for their rivals.
Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Force India and the two Red Bull teams wrapped up their winter work on the final day – although their respective plans weren’t helped by morning fog which saw the session start time delayed by 90 minutes.
“This Brawn has surprised everyone,” said the man pipped by Hamilton for the world title last season.
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“Before Barcelona we (Ferrari) were one of the quickest on the circuit, we were very competitive, in the leading pack. Now we’re competitive, but behind Brawn.”
Massa added: “No one can do the same times (as Brawn). Everyone was using less fuel, not only them. But their times were much faster than those that anyone else could do.”
Barichello, echoing Massa’s positive assessment, suggested the Brawn car was going to be “the surprise of the season”.
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