Rosberg sets the pace in Jerez
02/10/2012 03:06:05 AM
Nico Rosberg went fastest during the third day of Formula One pre-season testing as several big names got a taste of their new cars.
Mercedes driver Rosberg managed 118 laps in Jerez on Thursday (local time), clocking the best time of the day with a lap of one minute 17.613 seconds.
Reigning drivers' champion Sebastian Vettel took out the 2012 Red Bull for the first time, while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso also featured.
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was second quickest, 0.806 seconds slower than Rosberg.
The Frenchman's effort of 1:18.419 is the fastest time set in a 2012 car throughout testing thus far.
Vettel produced 96 laps to be third, ahead of Hamilton and Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne.
They were all left behind by Rosberg, with the German comfortably fastest as Mercedes concluded their testing at Jerez ahead of introducing their new car in Barcelona later this month.
Sauber's Sergio Perez, Alonso, Williams' Bruno Senna and Caterham reserve driver Giedo van der Garde completed the top nine.
Jules Bianchi, of Force India, was 10th and unable to register a time, forcing one of the day's three red flags when he came off, while van der Garde found the gravel and Grosjean halted on the circuit for the other stoppages.