PORTIMAO, Portugal — Rookie Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi was fastest in testing Monday at the new Portimao circuit, where F1 teams Renault, Williams and Toyota all took their 2009 cars for a debut spin.
Buemi set a fastest lap of 1 minute, 41.528 seconds from 65 laps around the 4.687-kilometer (2.912-mile) Algarve track.
McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa was second with a time of 1:46.076 as the Spaniard took the British team’s new car out for a second straight day, although with some 2008 fittings still attached.
Williams and Renault exhibited their new Formula One cars for the first time, with Nico Hulkenberg and Nelson Piquet Jr. finishing third and fourth ahead of Kamui Kobayashi, who got to drive Toyota’s new car for the first time.
“It has been an interesting experience to drive with KERS for the first time and we are understanding more about the system all the time,” the Japanese driver said after timing a best lap of 1:50.989 in soggy conditions.
F1 will introduce major rule and regulation changes this season, with the KERS energy recovery system one of the most unpredictable additions.
Testing at Portimao continues through Thursday.
ZURICH, Switzerland — Swiss bank Credit Suisse Group is stopping its sponsorship of Formula One team BMW Sauber.
Switzerland’s second biggest bank said Monday it decided against renewing a contract that ended last year.
Credit Suisse had sponsored the team since 2001, sticking with the Swiss Sauber team when it was taken over by German automaker BMW in 2005.
Credit Suisse said it was concentrating now on sponsoring regional events and institutions, instead of international ones. It cited its past support of the New York Philharmonic and the National Gallery in London.
BMW Sauber won its first race last year at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Robert Kubica crossing the line ahead of teammate Nick Heidfeld. The team finished the season third behind Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes.
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