Ferrari set the pace in testing

Ferrari continued to set the pace on the third day of testing in Barcelona ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix on May 13.

Kimi Raikkonen had gone fastest on Monday and Tuesday, but today, in clear conditions, Felipe Massa demonstrated the Italian team’s speed was no fluke.

The Brazilian took over duties from his Finnish team-mate and clocked up more than 100 laps in setting a time of one minute 21.506 seconds, three tenths quicker than Mark Webber, next up on the timing sheets for improving Red Bull.

World champion Fernando Alonso, who completed just one lap in Tuesday’s rain, could not better fifth place as he continued to test a distinctive new front wing on his McLaren.

In between, Jarno Trulli was third for Toyota and Heikki Kovalainen fourth, whose 121 laps was the most of the day as Renault look to recapture the form that has taken them to the past two constructors’ championships.

Jenson Button’s travails continued on the penultimate day of testing as he could lap no quicker than seventh in his Honda, one place ahead of fellow Briton Anthony Hamilton for Super Aguri.

Robert Kubica was sixth for BMW, while Scott Speed (Toro Rosso) and Christijan Albers (Spyker) ended up 10th and 11th.

It was not such a productive day, or week, for the Williams team, who decided to leave the test early after two crashes in the space of three days.

Test driver Kazuki Nakajima badly damaged his car on Monday and by the time new parts were flown out on Tuesday, heavy rain scuppered further running.

Then, today Nico Rosberg destroyed another chassis in a crash, forcing the team to pack their bags and return to the UK.