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Mar
2nd

F1: Lewis Hamilton tops day 3 of last pre-season test (+photos)

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Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) added to speculations his team could race for the 2013 championship, setting the fastest lap of the third day of the last pre-season venue, in Barcelona, Spain.

Overall this week, his former teammate, Jenson Button, has been impressed with the progress of the silver arrows: "The one team that has been consistently quick has been Mercedes more than anyone else," dixit the 2009 champ.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

But as Hamilton pointed out, none of his fellow world champions were out on track today. Button himself, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen were all enjoying a day off.

Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)
Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Maybe the latter wasn't "enjoying" so much the day off. The Finn sat out the test because of food poisoning.

Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2)
Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2)

Coming back to what happened on the track, Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) managed his best time, the second fastest of the day, before losing a wheel on the track.

Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM06 (Photo: WRi2)
Adrian Sutil, Force India VJM06 (Photo: WRi2)

Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06), in his first outing as a confirmed driver for the Silverstone based team, was third fastest.

Completing the top 5 were the two Williams drivers, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado a tenth ahead of rookie Valtteri Bottas.

Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02 (Photo: WRi2)
Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02 (Photo: WRi2)

Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) went 12th fastest in his new machine, half second quicker than Giedo van der Garde (Caterham CT03), 13th and last.

Sergio Pérez, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)
Sergio Pérez, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)


F1 winter testing, March 2nd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"558 - 117 laps
2 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'21"266 - 94
3 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"627 - 109
4 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"305 - 34
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"468- 31
6 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'22"553 - 99
7 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'22"658 - 59
8 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'22"694 - 101
9 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"223 - 114
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"380 - 46
11 - Davide Valsecchi (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"448 - 22
12 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"028 - 74
13 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'24"520 - 126

*Unofficial timing

Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)
Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

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