Test in Barcelona: best time for Webber

Mark Webber set the fastest time for Red Bull on the first day of F1 testing in Barcelona where the teams began their final pre-season testing session. The Australian set the fastest time after Sergio Perez's best time was canceled due to a chicane cut.

Webber's time of 1.22.544 was achieved with a single lap in the morning. Webber then completed another lap just one tenth slower shortly afterwards, after running in the low 1'23s of a 5-lap stint.

In the afternoon, Webber dedicated himself to long runs, with stints of 10, 13 and 17 laps with times of 1'27" before dropping to 1'30" and 1'32" as the tires deteriorated.

In the final minutes of the session Webber was overtaken by Perez's Sauber but the Mexican clipped a chicane in the final stretch and the time was cancelled. Perez remained fourth after dedicating himself mainly to short runs, interrupted by a small oil leak.

Second half for McLaren with Jenson Button. In the morning the Englishman aborted a race simulation but once back on track he showed an encouraging pace and ended the day 366 thousandths behind Webber. The Woking team made headlines for a bizarre solution at the front which actually hid an instrument designed to measure the flexibility of the front wing.

Renault were third and fifth, with Vitaly Petrov replacing Nick Heidfeld, who was suffering from flu. Heidfeld was still credited with the third fastest time before being overtaken by Petrov and Perez.

Paul di Resta, sixth, and Nico Hulkenberg, ninth, ran for Force India.

Davide Valsecchi and Luiz Razia tested with Team Lotus today. Valsecchi had briefly achieved third fastest in the morning before crashing into the gravel and causing a red flag. He then finished with the seventh fastest time while Razia, who also caused a red flag a few seconds from the end, did not go beyond the tenth fastest time.

The first interruption of the day was caused by Sebastien Buemi's Toro Rosso, which skipped a few hours after a stop on the track. The Swiss completed 48 laps, obtaining the eighth fastest time.

Pos Driver Team Time Lap Gap 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 1m24.117 .1.573s + 90 5 1. Nick Heidfeld Renault 24.735m2.191s + 20 6 1. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 25.039m2.495s + 38 7 1. Davide Valsecchi Lotus-Renault 25.406m2.862s + 50 8 1. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso -Ferrari 26.004m3.460s + 48 9 1. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 26.030m3.486s + 31 10 1. Luiz razia Lotus-Renault 26.723m4.179s + 29 11 1. Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 32.060m9.516s + 57 XNUMX XNUMX XNUMX