Australian Mark Webber has set a lightening pace in the first morning of the final pre-season Formula 1 test at Barcelona today.
The Red Bull driver spent the morning running qualifying simulation runs and rattled of a set of blistering times, sending shockwaves through the paddock.
Webber ended the session over one second faster than Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, who was second fastest.
According to Autosport.com, Webber set eight laps quicker than anyone else could manage.
Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg was third fastest, 0.170s behind Rosberg. Pedro de la Rosa (BMW Sauber) was fourth best ahead of Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), who was beset by mechanical problems.
Virgin Racing’s Lucas di Grassi crashed out at turn nine, with the rear of the VR-01 colliding heavily with the barriers.
Morning session times at Barcelona Formula 1 test
| 1 | Mark Webber | Red Bull | 1m21.487s |
| 2 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | +1.027s |
| 3 | Nico Hulkenberg | Williams | +1.197s |
| 4 | Pedro de la Rosa | Sauber | +1.834s |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | +3.093s |
| 6 | Jenson Button | McLaren | +3.095s |
| 7 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso | +3.382s |
| 8 | Tonio Liuzzi | Force India | +3.816s |
| 9 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | +4.721s |
| 10 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin | +5.570s |
| 11 | Fairuz Fauzy | Lotus | +8.308s |
