Massa quickest as F1 returns to work
Formula One roared back into action on Tuesday at the Barcelona circuit, where nine of the eleven Grand Prix teams began their winter testing programmes
With all the teams using Bridgestone tyres, Ferrari showed their experience will count next season, with Felipe Massa topping the times for the Italian squad.
Test driver Luca Badoer posted the third fastest time of the day.
McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa, however, followed Brazilian Massa closely, less than three tenths of a second behind in his team's maiden test with the Japanese tyres.
De la Rosa worked alongside Briton Lewis Hamilton, who managed 63 laps on his way to the sixth fastest time of the day. Hamilton caused an early red flag when his car stopped on track with an engine mapping issue.
The BMW-Sauber team continued to show good form, with German Nick Heidfeld fourth fastest also in the German squad's first taste of the Bridgestone rubber. Teammate Robert Kubica was seventh quickest in the second F1.06.
Honda, Renault, Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Super Aguri also completed their first day of work with their new tyres following Michelin's exit.
Briton Anthony Davidson made his debut with the Super Aguri team, driving an interim car, appearing very similar to last year's Honda RA106. Davidson was 11th fastest.
There were only two red flags during the day, the first caused by Hamilton and the second by Kubica when his car stopped on the main straight at around 4pm.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:17.160 52 2. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:17.455 68 3. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:17.555 77 4. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:17.651 62 5. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:17.932 82 6. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:18.239 63 7. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:18.519 46 8. Rossiter Honda (B) 1:18.678 85 9. Wurz Williams-Toyota (B) 1:18.691 94 10. Piquet Renault (B) 1:18.852 93 11. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.112 93 12. Kovalainen Renault (B) 1:19.187 93 13. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (B) 1:19.216 78 14. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (B) 1:19.380 66 15. Webber Red Bull-Ferrari (B) 1:19.439 45 16. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (B) 1:19.692 75 Distance covered Km Laps Renault 860.6 186 Honda 772.7 167 Toro Rosso 666.3 144 McLaren Mercedes 606.1 131 Ferrari 583.0 126 ReBull Racing 555.2 120 BMW Sauber 499.7 108 Williams 434.9 94 Super Aguri 430.3 93All Timing Unofficial
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