Vettel sets early pace in Barcelona testing

Fernando Alonso also saw action for first time this pre-season.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb 19, 2013 (AFP) - Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel set the early pace for Red Bull on the first day of testing ahead of the start of the new Formula One season here on Tuesday.

Fernando Alonso, second to Vettel in the 2012 driver's championship, posted the third best time in Ferrari's F138 at Barcelona's Catalunya circuit having missed the opening batch of tests in Jerez.

Most of Vettel's laps were done on the hard tyres, an approach followed by Raikkonen who set his best time of 1:23.571 using the hard compound.

The 2012 runner-up, Fernando Alonso, hit the pitch for first time this pre-season at Barcelona where he was greeted by a good legion of fans at the main Grandstand. His time of 1:23.733 was also set on hard tyres as well, and ran a solid 44 laps.

The FW35 launched earlier in the day by Williams had an encouraging start with Maldonado registering the fourth best time of 1:23.733 set on the medium tyre. The Venezuelan ran for a long 49 laps, a number only matched by Paul di Resta from Force India.

The new season opens in Australia on March 17.

The times for the morning session:

POS	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME	GAP	LAPS
1	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	1:23.046		25
2	Kimi Raikkonen	Lotus	1:23.571	+ 0.525s	19
3	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari	1:23.626	+ 0.580s	44
4	Pastor Maldonado	Williams	1:23.733	+ 0.687s	47
5	Daniel Ricciardo	Toro Rosso	1:23.884	+ 0.838s	44
6	Sergio Perez	McLaren	1:24.124	+ 1.078s	22
7	Paul di Resta	Force India	1:24.144	+ 1.098s	47
8	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1:24.520	+ 1.474s	14
9	Esteban Gutierrez	Sauber	1:25.136	+ 2.090s	38
10	Charles Pic	Caterham	1:27.534	+ 4.488s	40
11	Max Chilton	Marussia	1:28.068	+ 5.022s	36