Hamilton sets pace at Paul Ricard
Lewis Hamilton set the pace on the opening day of testing at the Paul Ricard circuit, where all Formula One teams are working this week
Hamilton was the only man to lap the French track in less than 66 seconds, posting a best time of 1:05.600 despite being the driver with the smallest number of laps completed.
The layout used today was the 3.593km 2D SC.
With all outfits focusing on their preparations for the Monaco Grand Prix, several new aerodynamic elements appeared today on some of the cars.
Championship leader Kimi Raikkonen was second quickest, albeit over four tenths of a second slower than his McLaren rival. The Italian squad were working with their regular nose for most of the day, but Raikkonen tried the 'hole in the nose' concept for his final run.
Ferrari have said they will use the nose again in Monaco after it skipped the race in Turkey.
BMW's Robert Kubica was third quickest after 124 laps, with Red Bull's Mark Webber, the early pace-setter today, finishing down in fourth.
Sebastian Vettel finally got his first taste of Toro Rosso's new STR3 car following its troubled debut in Spain. The car, which featured a shark-fin engine cover, is scheduled to race in Monte Carlo after its introduction was delayed following a crash by Sebastien Bourdais in testing.
Vettel showed promising form with the new car, setting the first fastest time ahead of Nico Rosberg, whose Williams team also introduced a new shark-fin engine cover today.
Rosberg was the busiest man with 154 laps completed.
Alex Wurz returned to Formula One action following his LMS outing in Spa last weekend, carrying out testing duties for his Honda team, who tried a new version of their 'seagull' nose wing.
Toyota also introduced new aerodynamic updates - including a new rear wing - tested by Timo Glock.
Tonio Liuzzi was also back behind the wheel of a Formula One car for the first time in weeks, testing for the Force India team. He set the ninth quickest time, ahead of Renault's test driver Luca di Grassi.
Vettel and di Grassi caused the two red flags of the day, although Hamilton, Kubica and Glock also stopped at the end of the pitlane.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:05.600 84 2. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:06.089 103 3. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:06.177 124 4. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:06.348 93 5. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:06.372 91 6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:06.571 154 7. Wurz Honda (B) 1:06.681 131 8. Glock Toyota (B) 1:06.935 93 9. Liuzzi Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:07.346 106 10. di Grassi Renault (B) 1:07.430 146 All Timing Unofficial
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