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3rd
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Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) had Mercedes on top, Sunday, as the last pre-season test ended, in Barcelona, Spain.
The day before, Rosberg's stalemate Lewis Hamilton leaped ahead of everyone, boosting the team's form from point finishers to front-running material.
World champions Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138), Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28), Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus E21) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8) were all in action, but couldn't knock Rosberg and Mercedes off the top.
It was close for Alonso - only some four tenths off -, but no cigar. Jenson Button couldn't break the 1min21sec barrier, and Räikkönen, who got better from yesterday's food poisoning, just squeezed passed Paul di Resta (Force India VJM06), to get into the top five.
German Vettel was left eighth, splitting the Williams pair led by Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35).
Frenchman Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) improved on his second day as an official race driver, lowering his best time so far by almost a full second.
With the third and final pre-season venue now over, next up for the team is the opening round of the 2013 season, Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix, in two weeks.
Will Mercedes finally break through this year?
Or will its impressive pace fade away like in 2012?
F1 winter testing, March 3rd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"130
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'20"494
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'21"444
4 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'21"541
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"568
6 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"664
7 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"415
8 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9) - 1'22"514
9 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"524
10 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'23"115
11 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'23"167
12 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"628
13 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"103
*Unofficial timing
 |
| Fernando Alonso (background) couldn't quite keep up with Nico Rosberg (Photo: WRi2) |
The day before, Rosberg's stalemate Lewis Hamilton leaped ahead of everyone, boosting the team's form from point finishers to front-running material.
 |
| Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F138 (Photo: WRi2) |
World champions Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138), Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28), Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus E21) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8) were all in action, but couldn't knock Rosberg and Mercedes off the top.
 |
| Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2) |
It was close for Alonso - only some four tenths off -, but no cigar. Jenson Button couldn't break the 1min21sec barrier, and Räikkönen, who got better from yesterday's food poisoning, just squeezed passed Paul di Resta (Force India VJM06), to get into the top five.
 |
| Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2) |
German Vettel was left eighth, splitting the Williams pair led by Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35).
 |
| Pastor Maldonado, Williams FW35 (Photo: WRi2) |
Frenchman Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02) improved on his second day as an official race driver, lowering his best time so far by almost a full second.
 |
| Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02 (Photo: WRi2) |
With the third and final pre-season venue now over, next up for the team is the opening round of the 2013 season, Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix, in two weeks.
 |
| Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso STR8 (Photo: WRi2) |
Will Mercedes finally break through this year?
Or will its impressive pace fade away like in 2012?
 |
| Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2) |
F1 winter testing, March 3rd, Barcelona (Spain)*
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'20"130
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'20"494
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'21"444
4 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'21"541
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"568
6 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"664
7 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"415
8 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9) - 1'22"514
9 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'22"524
10 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'23"115
11 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'23"167
12 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"628
13 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'24"103
*Unofficial timing
 |
| Giedo van der Garde, Caterham CT03 (Photo: WRi2) |