One of the interesting things happening at the current test in Barcelona is the progress in the battle for seats at Toro Rosso. The fact that Sebastien Bourdais is having to compete with the applicants is ridiculous but he does provide a useful yardstick in assessing them. And the big surprise has been the performance of Takuma Sato.
Paul di Resta in the DTM
It was pointed out to me recently that I left out Sato and Davidson from my rating of the drivers for 2008. I felt that they were difficult to assess since they had so few races in the year - so they were omitted deliberately from the list. But Sato's times in the STR make me think I may have been wrong to do so. He is as quick as Bourdais on the strength of the test and not as rusty as we might have expected.
Sebastien Buemi has been pretty fast as well, although lagging a bit behind the other two - perhaps to be expected from a driver completely new to F1. It leaves STR with a difficult decision to make. On times alone, they should take Bourdais and Sato but there is the matter of money to be considered as well. In fact, the team admit that this is an important factor and Sato has said that he is trying to gather as much sponsorship as possible to assist his bid. Buemi has the backing of Red Bull, of course, but where does that leave Bourdais? Possibly out of a job, is the answer.
That would be a great injustice but the STR bosses have to think about paying their way as Red Bull prepare to abandon them. Obviously, the more funding they can obtain now, the greater the possibility of their survival beyond next year. Many have suggested that Vettel should have stayed at STR, since the team continue with the powerful Ferrari engines, but I think Renault have solved their power problems and RBR will be the place to be next year. STR are likely to fall off the pace as financial troubles bite harder.
Elsewhere, the Spanish newspapers are making wild claims that Pedro de la Rosa will drive for Force India in 2009. That is just not going to happen - McLaren have obviously let FIF1 have the benefit of PDLR's development skills for a while, now that they are a customer of the Woking team. Much more likely is that Paul di Resta, McLaren's latest young find, will get at least a test with FIF1. And, judging by what Steven Roy has to say on the matter, di Resta could turn out to be another Hamilton!
Paul himself says that his goal is to be in F1 in 2009, although it is more likely that he will spend another year in DTM or perhaps get a drive in GP2. The FIF1 seat is an outside possibility only. Paul did beat Vettel in F3, however, and must be an interesting prospect therefore.
And so to Bruno Senna, testing for Honda this time out. He did well enough, although not as quick as Button yesterday and probably not sufficient for the team to justify getting rid of Barrichello yet. But at least it gives Jenson the chance to say that he is faster than Senna!