Formula 1
Toro Rosso Brazilian GP Friday practice report
Toro Rosso press release
Published: Nov 25, 2011, 7:09 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber

Jean-Eric Vergne (STR6-03)
First Practice Session
Best lap 1:16.052, pos. 18th, 33 laps
“I have enjoyed the brief time spent driving Friday mornings for Scuderia Toro Rosso. The main purpose has been to give me as much F1 mileage as possible, while also working on the team’s normal free practice programme.

Sebastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso
Photo by: xpb.cc
The start of today’s session was quite tricky, on a track I didn’t know with a surface that was a bit dirty at first. The track itself is great fun to drive. I did my first run on the Medium tyres, then for the next two I used the experimental Hards that Pirelli brought here for us to try out. Myself and Jaime also worked on an aero programme. I ran with low downforce and I found it difficult as I clearly lacked grip, but that does not matter, because it produced useful data for the team, which I hope will help them get a good result this weekend. I also want to thank them and Red Bull for giving me this opportunity.”
Sebastien Buemi (STR6-03)
Second Practice Session
Best lap: 1:15.264, pos. 15th, 44 laps
"I had to get everything done in the 90 minutes of the afternoon session and the team did a good job, giving me a car that was reliable and ran trouble free. This meant I was able to do a lot of laps, trying the prototype tyres, then the Medium and the Soft, completing a useful long run, so I am happy with my day. It is too early to talk about performance but generally, we are in the same group that we have been in for the past few races. As it is a very short track here, it is very important to get everything right, because a difference of one tenth of a second can have a big effect on your position on the grid.”

Jaime Alguersuari, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Jean-Eric Vergne, Test Driver, Scuderia Toro Rosso
Photo by: xpb.cc
Jaime Alguersuari (STR6-02)
First Practice Session
Best lap 1:15.468, pos. 11th, 29 laps
Second Practice Session
Best lap 1:15.388, pos. 16th, 41 laps
“We experimented with different levels of downforce over the two sessions and I think I felt happier with the car’s behaviour in the morning, although we will have to assess the data before making a decision about this element of the package. The group we are in looks very close in terms of performance at this track. I think we can aim to be a bit higher up the order tomorrow, although it will be tough. In terms of set-up I think we have more or less got it how we want and with the tyres, the difference between the Medium and Soft is one of the smallest we have seen this season as the lap is very short in Interlagos. As for the race, we can expect a change in the weather, so maybe we need to gamble on running a wet set-up right from qualifying tomorrow.”
We were trying to find the right compromise in set-up terms
Laurent Mekies
Laurent Mekies (Chief Engineer):
“We had a busy day, completing our programme with our two cars and three drivers, all of whom were able to try different set-ups and run with the three compounds Pirelli has brought here; the experimental Hard for next year and the Medium and Soft which are the choices for the rest of the weekend. We were trying to find the right compromise in set-up terms because you have a very slow infield and a very long uphill straight.
However, this weekend it seems there will be another factor in the equation, as after a nice dry and sunny day with high track temperatures, it looks as though we are heading for a wet weekend. It will be interesting to see how it evolves and I feel we have scanned enough elements today to have a good idea what to do whatever the conditions. Now we need to put everything together and make no mistakes in tomorrow’s qualifying.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Brazilian GP Friday press conference
Next article HRT Brazilian GP Friday practice report
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment

More from
Sébastien Buemi

The new records set by Toyota's Hypercar trio with WEC 2026 title
WEC
WEC
Monza
The new records set by Toyota's Hypercar trio with WEC 2026 title

WEC title showdown: How Toyota’s two crews can win the crown at Monza
WEC
WEC
Monza
WEC title showdown: How Toyota’s two crews can win the crown at Monza

More from
Racing Bulls

“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 16 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return

Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Latest news

McLaren to upgrade MCL40 car at its bogey F1 track Las Vegas
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
49 min
McLaren to upgrade MCL40 car at its bogey F1 track Las Vegas

Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
Misc General 5 h
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish

TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
11 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale

Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
12 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
Feature
Discover prime content

Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe




