Button sets pace on first day of F1 tests

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain (AFP) –

McLaren’s British driver Jenson Button speaks to the media during a training session at the Jerez racetrack on February 5, 2013, in Jerez de la Frontera. Button overcame a morning spent largely in the pits by setting the fastest time on the first day of Formula One testing a month ahead of the opening Grand Prix in Australia.

Former world champion Jenson Button overcame a morning spent largely in the pits by setting the fastest time on the first day of Formula One testing a month ahead of the opening Grand Prix in Australia.

The 33-year-old Englishman — world champion in 2009 — overcame problems with his McLaren as he roared back in the afternoon session to record a fastest time of 1min 18.861sec over 34 laps.

Red Bull’s Australian star Mark Webber was second fastest after completing 73 laps in the team’s new car, which they hope will deliver a fourth successive constructors’ title.

Lotus’s unpredictable French driver Romain Grosjean was third-fastest, while Scottish driver Paul di Resta was in fourth in the new model Force India car.

Webber’s compatriot Daniel Ricciardo set the pace in the morning session in the new Toro Rosso car but ended up fifth-fastest.

Button’s former McLaren team-mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton didn’t take to the track in his Mercedes, whose day’s work had been cut short after German driver Nico Rosberg’s car caught fire after just 14 laps because of an electrical fault.

Minnows Marussia had an inauspicious day as, hours after unveiling their new car, British rookie Max Chilton crashed after exiting the track – he did manage to complete 29 laps but was way off the pace of the 10 other drivers with his best time over six seconds slower than Button’s.

Marussia are likely to be trading blows at the back of the grid with Caterham this season after the withdrawal of last season’s tail-enders, HRT.

Best times

1. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1min 18.861sec 37 laps

2. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull Renault) 1:19.709 73

3. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault) 1:19.796 54

4. Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes) 1:20.343 89

5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1:20.401 70

6. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1:20.536 64

7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:20.699 79

8. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 1:20.846 14

9. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault) 1:20.864 84

10. Giedo van der Garde (NED/Caterham-Renault) 1:21.915 64

11. Max Chilton (GBR/Marussia-Cosworth) 1:24.176 29