JEREZ, Spain, Dec 11: Formula One’s spotlight returned to the track Tuesday for the first time since news of Honda’s surprise pullout from the sport. Sebastien Buemi’s chances of racing for Toro Rosso in 2009 improved after the Swiss driver topped the testing session at the Jerez circuit track.

Buemi timed a best lap of 1 minute, 18.742 seconds to edge teammate Sebastien Bourdais, who is also looking to keep his seat with the Italian team. The Frenchman trailed Buemi by just over half a second with Takumo Sato scheduled to test on Thursday.

Kimi Raikkonen drove his Ferrari for the first time since the end of the season to set the fifth fastest time. Teammate Felipe Massa returns to the track Wednesday for the first time since McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton took the world title away from him on the last lap at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

McLaren’s test duo of Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffet rounded out the top five at Jerez.

Honda’s departure from the sport last Friday has left the sport reeling as it looks to slash rising costs to avoid any other teams pulling out amid the global financial downturn.—AP