Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) added to speculations his team could race for the 2013 championship, setting the fastest lap of the third day of the last pre-season venue, in Barcelona, Spain.
Overall this week, his former teammate, Jenson Button, has been impressed with the progress of the silver arrows: "The one team that has been consistently quick has been Mercedes more than anyone else," dixit the 2009 champ.
But as Hamilton pointed out, none of his fellow world champions were out on track today. Button himself, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen were all enjoying a day off.
Maybe the latter wasn't "enjoying" so much the day off. The Finn sat out the test because of food poisoning.
Coming back to what happened on the track, Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) managed his best time, the second fastest of the day, before losing a wheel on the track.
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06), in his first outing as a confirmed driver for the Silverstone based team, was third fastest.
Completing the top 5 were the two Williams drivers, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado a tenth ahead of rookie Valtteri Bottas.
Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) went 12th fastest in his new machine, half second quicker than Giedo van der Garde (Caterham CT03), 13th and last.
F1 winter testing, March 2nd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"558 - 117 laps
2 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'21"266 - 94
3 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"627 - 109
4 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"305 - 34
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"468- 31
6 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'22"553 - 99
7 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'22"658 - 59
8 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'22"694 - 101
9 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"223 - 114
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"380 - 46
11 - Davide Valsecchi (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"448 - 22
12 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"028 - 74
13 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'24"520 - 126
*Unofficial timing
Overall this week, his former teammate, Jenson Button, has been impressed with the progress of the silver arrows: "The one team that has been consistently quick has been Mercedes more than anyone else," dixit the 2009 champ.
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| Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2) |
But as Hamilton pointed out, none of his fellow world champions were out on track today. Button himself, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen were all enjoying a day off.
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| Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2) |
Maybe the latter wasn't "enjoying" so much the day off. The Finn sat out the test because of food poisoning.
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| Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2) |
Coming back to what happened on the track, Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) managed his best time, the second fastest of the day, before losing a wheel on the track.
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| Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM06 (Photo: WRi2) |
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06), in his first outing as a confirmed driver for the Silverstone based team, was third fastest.
Completing the top 5 were the two Williams drivers, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado a tenth ahead of rookie Valtteri Bottas.
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| Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02 (Photo: WRi2) |
Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) went 12th fastest in his new machine, half second quicker than Giedo van der Garde (Caterham CT03), 13th and last.
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| Sergio Pérez, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2) |
F1 winter testing, March 2nd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"558 - 117 laps
2 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'21"266 - 94
3 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"627 - 109
4 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"305 - 34
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"468- 31
6 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'22"553 - 99
7 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'22"658 - 59
8 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'22"694 - 101
9 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"223 - 114
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"380 - 46
11 - Davide Valsecchi (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"448 - 22
12 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"028 - 74
13 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'24"520 - 126
*Unofficial timing
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| Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2) |