Mark Webber said Red Bull regarded Friday practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix as a final chance to track test potential 2012 developments.
With the team expecting rain at Interlagos for the rest of the weekend and testing banned until the new year, Webber said Red Bull made the most of today's sunshine.
"It could have been our last chance to run in the dry with some wet weather coming, so it was our last test day, so there were some items we were looking at for next year, and a bit of reliability work here and there for Renault so it was a good day for us," he said.
The Australian did not think the 2012 element skewed today's results too much. Webber was fastest in the morning, with teammate Sebastian Vettel fourth, while they took second and third behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the afternoon.
"It was still reasonable in terms of the information you get and we get in terms of pace relative to the competition," said Webber. "You still want to do some specific work for this weekend, no one is fully rigged up for 2012 today so you still read a bit into it."
Vettel added that he was satisfied with his practice two form having been unhappy with his morning pace, describing his day as "so so" overall.
"I think this morning I wasn't too happy," he said. "This afternoon I was happier. I think we were able to improve the car, so definitely we need to make another step.
"It seemed to be very hot today, the circuit was very slippery. Arguably that is not going to be the case tomorrow, and Sunday, as there is some rain on the way or rain forecast, but it changes pretty quickly here so we'll see tomorrow."