Fernando Alonso is setting the early pace in his first outing for Ferrari on day three of this year’s first Formula One test in Valencia.

More than 25,000 fans are expected to turn up today to watch their local hero Alonso. The day also features Jenson Button’s first outing for McLaren and Michael Schumacher’s first full day of testing for Mercedes.

Alonso is fastest after the first two hours ahead of Pedro de la Rosa’s Sauber and Schumacher. Button has so far only completed an installation run.

Keep checking back to autocar.co.uk throughout the day for the latest news and pictures from the test.

Unofficial times after the first two hours of testing:

1 Alonso Ferrari 1m11.905s

2 de la Rosa Sauber 1m12.094s +0.189

3 Schumacher Mercedes 1m12.450s +0.545

4 Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1m12.576s +0.671

5 Hulkenberg Williams 1m14.410s +2.505

6 Petrov Renault 1m15.240s +3.335

7 Button McLaren 1m32.980s +21.075

Alonso sets pace in Valencia - Autocar.co.uk

 

Hmm apparently the Ferraris are going to be a challenge this year...

 

We'll see...

 

Just wait, Schumacher and Mercedes will be working every second of every day to be at the top of their game by the beginning of the season.

 

Alonso finishes Valencia test on top

Fernando Alonso confirmed Ferrari's rapid pace by topping the timesheets as testing came to a close in Valencia on Wednesday. The Spaniard's outing was his first for the Maranello team as reigning World Champion Jenson Button made his first appearance at the wheel of a McLaren.

There were more bright conditions in Spain on Wednesday as an enormous crowd of 36,400 flocked to the Ricardo Tormo circuit, each paying an entrance fee of five euros. The amazing figures translate to a total of 59,100 since the 3-day test began on Monday morning and resulted in traffic jams stretching as far as 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) on local roads.

On the track, Ferrari kept up the leading pace demonstrated by Felipe Massa on the previous two days as local favourite Alonso led the way on a lap time of 1:11.470. To delight the spectators further, however, Barcelona men Pedro de la Rosa and Jaime Alguersuari finished the day second and fourth for Sauber and Toro Rosso respectively.

7-time World Champion Michael Schumacher was back in Mercedes' first Formula 1 car for 55 years following a training day on Tuesday, slotting the MGP W01 into the top three once again. With Alonso at the top of the final classification, Alguersuari enjoyed his first ever F1 test session; despite having driven eight Grands Prix last year, the teenager was prevented from testing due to the in-season ban.

Jenson Button was all smiles as he made especially sure that photographers noticed the number 1 on his McLaren before the green light came on; the Englishman, who took over from Lewis Hamilton after Tuesday, completed the day fifth of the seven runners and just under one and a half seconds off Alonso's leading time; the pair enjoyed a brief 'battle' in the closing stages as Alonso, who had slowed for a gap on-track, passed the McLaren which, in-turn, backed off.

The pattern of one red flag per day continued on Wednesday as a bizarre incident took place just 25 minutes into the session; upon passing Nico Hülkenberg on the inside, de la Rosa's Ferrari-powered Sauber - which was fastest through the speed trap - touched the Williams and was forced to stop on-track before receiving a lift back to the pits on a flatbed lorry.

Joining Hülkenberg as one of Wednesday's F1 rookies was Vitaly Petrov, the Renault driver who is preparing to become the first ever Russian to compete in a Formula 1 race; the 25-year-old from Vyborg finished sixth tenths quicker than the German, whose best effort of 1:13.669 was the slowest of the day.


With Valencia's session now over, pre-season testing will continue in a week as the Formula 1 fraternity travels south to Jerez; in doing so, 2009 runners-up Red Bull Racing will be welcomed for the first time this year as well as Force India and 2010 debutants Virgin Racing.

Unofficial times from day three:

1 Alonso (Ferrari) 1m11.470s

2 de la Rosa (Sauber) +0.624

3 Schumacher (Mercedes) +0.968

4 Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) +1.106

5 Button (McLaren) +1.481

6 Petrov (Renault) +1.627

7 Hulkenberg (Williams) +2.199

Alonso finishes Valencia test on top - Formula 1 news - GPUpdate.net

 

Shocked that de La Rosa did so well.

Just like to hear those two words: "testing" and "Valencia."