Red Bull’s Mark Webber topped the timesheets as the final pre-season test began at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday. Webber’s best time, a 1m 22.544s, was almost four tenths of a second faster than the quickest lap from McLaren’s Jenson Button in second.
The weather made life tricky for the eight teams in action, as sporadic drizzly rain hampered their programmes at the Spanish circuit. Most, however, enjoyed productive days, with Webber managing to complete almost 100 laps in the RB7.
Renault’s Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld ended the day in third and fifth respectively, with Sauber’s Sergio Perez dividing the duo in fourth. Force India were in sixth place with Paul di Resta at the helm of the VJM04. The team’s tester Nico Hulkenberg was in action before lunch and ended the day in ninth.
Seventh slot went to GP2 driver Davide Valsecchi in the Lotus. Valsecchi’s AirAsia team mate Luiz Razia also enjoyed a drive in the T128 and finished in 10th. Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi was eighth, whilst Virgin’s Jerome D’Ambrosio was the day’s final runner in 11th.
Testing continues at Barcelona on Wednesday, when Mercedes, Williams, Ferrari and HRT are expected to join proceedings.
Unofficial Tuesday test times from Barcelona:
1. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:22.544, 97 laps
2. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:22.910, 74
3. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:22.937, 27
4. Sergio Perez, Sauber, 1:24.117, 90
5. Nick Heidfeld, Renault, 1:24.735, 20
6. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:25.039, 38
7. Davide Valsecchi, Lotus, 1:25.406, 50
8. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 1:26.004, 48
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:26.030, 31
10. Luiz Razia, Lotus, 1:26.723, 28
11. Jerome D’Ambrosio, Virgin, 1:32.060, 57
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