Ferrari ends F1 pre-season testing on top

Sebastian Vettel kept Ferrari on top of the times on the final day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at Barcelona.

The four-time world champion posted a session best 1:22.853s effort on the super-soft tyres, which was the fastest time set on that compound throughout pre-season testing.

Vettel, who also tested the FIA’s halo head protection system, completed a race simulation logging 142 laps during the day.

The German’s performance means Ferrari has topped the times on five of the eight test days in the lead up to the season opening Australian Grand Prix later this month.

Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso emerged as the Maranello team’s nearest challengers with Carlos Sainz 0.2s adrift on the ultra-soft tyres.

Felipe Massa continued Williams’ encouraging form with the Brazilian firing in a time on the super-soft tyres to finish third ahead Force India’s Sergio Perez.

Mercedes encountered its first mechanical drama of pre-season testing when Lewis Hamilton came to halt on circuit with a transmission issue.

Hamilton was fifth quickest while team-mate Nico Rosberg completed 70 laps in the afternoon.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo ended the day in sixth position on super-softs in front of McLaren’s Jenson Button, while Renault’s Jolyon Palmer was eighth following a hydraulic problem.

Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson was ninth ahead Haas F1 drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez as the American team split its driver duties.

Result: Formula 1 Pre-Season Test Day 4, Barcelona