Rate it!

4 votes

Red Bull driver Mark Webber was fastest on the third day of testing at Jerez with a lap of 1:19.176.

Sebastian Vettel's slick-shod time of 1:18.843, recorded on Wednesday, remained unbeaten. The German, who was also fastest on day one, stepped aside as Sebastien Bourdais took over Toro Rosso testing duties.

Australian Webber put in 85 laps of the 4.5km Spanish test venue, his best coming on his 59th tour of the day.

Nelson Piquet Jr set the second fastest time in his Renault, 0.158 slower than Webber, while reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen managed the third best time in his Ferrari, another tenth of a second adrift.

"We have done many tests over these two days to try and understand what happened at Hockenheim and now we have a clearer idea on this matter," Raikkonen, who tried out next season's Bridgestone tyres after working on set-up, said.

"Today the car had improved compared to yesterday and we hope to be ready for the next rounds [of the championship]."

Piquet also worked on tyres: "It was very hot once again today, but it has been like that all week. We spent most of the day looking ahead to next year by running with slick tyres, which was very interesting.

"They felt good, gave plenty of grip, and the car was working well. We also did some set-up work, evaluating the changes to try and improve the overall balance."

Tonio Liuzzi, who successfully ran the seamless-shift gearbox yesterday in the Force India, put down the fourth fastest time and was encouragingly less than four-tenths of a second off the ultimate pace.

Pedro de la Rosa was back in action for McLaren and posted the fifth quickest time ahead of Bourdais in the Toro Rosso.

Kazuki Nakajima was next up for Williams while Timo Glock returned to the track for the first time since his heavy crash in Sunday's German Grand Prix with the eighth fastest time in the Toyota.

Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld brought up the rear of the timesheets for Honda and BMW Sauber respectively.

Testing continues for a fourth and final day tomorrow.

Testing day three times:

1. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1:19.176 85 laps

2. Nelson Piquet Jr (Renault) 1:19.334 95 laps

3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1:19.434 84 laps

4. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India) 1:19.544 86 laps

5. Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren) 1:19.850 39 laps

6. Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso) 1:20.029 77 laps

7. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams) 1:20.097 88 laps

8. Timo Glock (Toyota) 1:20.421 78 laps

9. Rubens Barrichello (Honda) 1:20.614 68 laps

10. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 1:20.896 97 laps

F1 Live / Eurosport