McLaren’s Jenson Button set the fastest lap of the opening pre-season test in Jerez on Tuesday, but it wasn’t all positive news for the team.
Whilst the Brit ended the day quickest, he completed just a handful of laps in the morning before stopping on the circuit with a fuel issue – causing the first red flag.
It took much of the day to solve the issue, before he returned to the circuit to post a 1:18.861, almost a second quicker than Mark Webber.
The Australian completed 73 laps, posting the second quickest time in the RB9.
Romain Grosjean had led for much of the session, but couldn’t keep up with the McLaren or Red Bull, whilst Paul di Resta and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top five.
Felipe Massa seemed pleased with Ferrari’s first day of testing as he posted the sixth quickest time ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg – who had to end the day having done just 11 laps due to temperature issues.
Max Chilton meanwhile ended up in the gravel after 29 laps when the rear-suspension on his newly debuted MR02 failed, causing a red flag.
For images from the first day in Jerez, visit our testing gallery here.
Times from the Jerez pre-season test (Tuesday):
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | J. Button | McLaren | 1:18.861 | 37 | |
| 02. | M. Webber | Red Bull | 1:19.709 | +0.848 | 73 |
| 03. | R. Grosjean | Lotus | 1:19.796 | +0.935 | 54 |
| 04. | P. di Resta | Force India | 1:20.343 | +1.482 | 89 |
| 05. | D. Ricciardo | Toro Rosso | 1:20.401 | +1.540 | 70 |
| 06. | F. Massa | Ferrari | 1:20.536 | +1.675 | 64 |
| 07. | N. Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:20.699 | +1.838 | 79 |
| 08. | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:20.846 | +1.985 | 11 |
| 09. | P. Maldonado | Williams | 1:20.864 | +2.003 | 84 |
| 10. | G. van der Garde | Caterham | 1:21.915 | +3.054 | 64 |
| 11. | M. Chilton | Marussia | 1:24.176 | +5.315 | 29 |
