Red flags galore as Webber dominate

Mark Webber was in a red-hot form, but it was the red flag that dominated proceedings on the first day of the final pre-season test in Barcelona.

No fewer than six drivers - Webber, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Lucas di Grassi, Fernando Alonso and Fauruz Fauzy - stopped on the track at various stages during the day.

Red Bull's Webber - who came to a halt at Turn 7 about two hours into the afternoon session - was atop the timesheets for most of the day after posting a 1:23.512 as soon as his car warmed in the morning. That time was soon lowered to a 1:22 before he became the first and only driver to dip under the 1:21 with a 1:21.487 before lunch.

The Australian was the second most productive driver on the track in terms of number of laps completed with his 109. However, he failed to match his early morning times later in the day as he appeared to be running on a lot of fuel.

His main challengers for top spot throughout the day were Nico Hulkenberg and Nico Rosberg. It was rookie Hulkenberg who finished second with a 1:22.504 while Mercedes' Rosberg was a further 0.107 behind.

Sauber continued their good pre-season form with Pedro de la Rosa fourth fastest while Jenson Button had to be content with fifth place. The McLaren driver didn't really set the world alight. First the car's transponder didn't work in the morning and then he stopped at Turn 10 shortly before the end of the session.

The team, though, are happy as he "concentrated primarily on mechanical and aerodynamic set-up work".

Staying with red flags, Alonso completed just 22 laps in the morning after his F10 stopped. Ferrari later revealed an "electronic issue" was to blame.

Lucas di Grassi was the biggest loser on day one after he sent his VR-01 into the tyre barriers. He was injured, but the same could not be said of his car.

"I had a spin at corner 9 compromising some mileage run," he wrote on Twitter. "The causes still being investigated. I am fine, thanks. Next time I will go even faster, always pushing more and more."

He returned to the track later in the afternoon, but he was well off the pace.

Force India as well as Renault did a lot of pitstop practice while the former also focused on "simulating a safety car and queued cars" later in the day.

Times:

1. M. Webber Red Bull RB6 1:21.487 109 laps
2. N. Hulkenberg Williams FW32 1:22.504 82 laps
3. N. Rosberg Mercedes W01 1:22.514 107 laps
4. P de la Rosa Sauber C29 1:23.144 73 laps
5. J Button McLaren MP4-25 1:23.452 101 laps
6. T. Liuzzi Force India VJM-03 1:24.064 65 laps
7. F. Alonso Ferrari F10 1:24.170 74 laps
8. V. Petrov Renault R30 1:24.173 73 laps
9. J Alguersuari Toro Rosso STR5 1:24.869 111 laps
10. L di Grassi Virgin VR-01 1:27.057 31 laps
11. F. Fauzy Lotus T127 1:28.002 76 laps

Source: Planet-F1