Barcelona F1 test: Nasr fastest for Sauber, McLaren plays catch-up

The Brazilian clocked 1m24.071s on soft tyres with Nico Rosberg second quickest in the Mercedes, 1.145s off the Sauber's pace on mediums.

After a troubled opening day for Mercedes, which was cut short by an MGU-K problem, Rosberg gave the world champion team a welcome boost with 61 laps on the board.

Meanwhile, Nasr's leading time was set during a number of short-runs on soft and medium tyres after the Swiss team had completed a programme of aero measurements and set-up work.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel also had productive day, with his tally of 69 laps the second-best behind Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen on 78.

Force India's new car appeared in public for the first time when Nico Hulkenberg headed out for an installation lap 40 minutes before the lunch break.

The German then managed one four-lap run, with a best time of 1m31.165s to finish bottom of the time sheets.

The Silverstone-based team missed the first test at Jerez and only ran its 2014 car at the last test at Barcelona, using it to gather data on the new Pirelli tyres.

McLaren bounced back from a troubled opening day by logging some useful mileage, with Jenson Button completing 44 laps and the seventh fastest time.

Williams's Valtteri Bottas was fourth quickest, ahead of Verstappen and the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado, at a sunny but chilly Circuit de Catalunya.

Red Bull was one of a number of teams to run aero rake devices on the car early in the session, with Daniil Kvyat completing 36 laps and setting the eighth-quickest time.

DAY TWO TIMES