Barcelona, fourth pre-season test

[Tazio]

Mark Webber gave a hint of Red Bull's pace as he set the fastest time on the first day of the final winter test at Barcelona - though he was only elevated to the top when a late time from Sergio Perez was deleted for chicane-jumping.

Webber's 1m22.544s was faster than anyone managed in last month's Catalunya test, and it came on a qualifying-style single-lap run this morning. He followed it up with another lap just one tenth slower shortly afterwards, having previously lapped in 1m23s on a five-lap stint.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89799

Day one times:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap Laps
1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m22.544s 97
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m22.910s + 0.366 74
3. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m22.937s + 0.393 27
4. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m24.117s + 1.573 90
5. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m24.735s + 2.191 20
6. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m25.039s + 2.495 38
7. Davide Valsecchi Lotus-Renault 1m25.406s + 2.862 50
8. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m26.004s + 3.460 48
9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m26.030s + 3.486 31
10. Luiz Razia Lotus-Renault 1m26.723s + 4.179 29
11. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m32.060s + 9.516 57

[pino]

Very interesting guy this Valsecchi...

[jas123f1]

During todays morning session Vettel was pushing quite hard too - however when looking on the times

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1.21,865
2. Vitali Petrov Renault 1.22,670
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1.23,324
4. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1.23,838
5. Paul di Resta Force India 1.24,334
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1.25,485
7. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1.26,120
8. Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1.28,946
9. Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin 1.28,982
10. Jarno Trulli Lotus 1.29,286

[Mia 01]

It´s easy to be a fan of RB and Seb at the moment!

[Mark]

I fear we'll have a Red Bull whitewash at the first few races this year.

[AndyL]

Massa did some good longer runs today, Ferrari might be able to challenge the Bulls.

[steveaki13]

I fear we'll have a Red Bull whitewash at the first few races this year.

Anything can happen in Australia.

Keep the faith for a close race.

[RS]

There seems to be a lot of unreliability around at the moment, with only a few days of testing left to go! Maybe mostly related to KERS and radical exhaust packaging?

[Tazio]

Massa did some good longer runs today, Ferrari might be able to challenge the Bulls.

From what I have read this morning Ferrari spent almost entire session doing back to back runs comparing new aero developments. Tomorrow Massa is going to do a race simulation. Ferrari is being very methodical, and I 'm going to resist that sinking feeling that Red Bull will dominate until at least the end of the Friday test session.

[Mia 01]

You did? I´m not rooting for them, however, my twin sons eight yers old does nowdays.

As someone said, STR will be a threat in the upper midfield this year.