Alonso makes his mark

The third and final day of testing at Valencia saw a number of drivers make their testing debuts. Fernando Alonso, undoubtedly keen to prove a point after two disappointing seasons at Renault, took to the track in a Ferrari for the first time and was immediately on the pace.

Alonso recorded a best lap of 1:11.599s, the fastest time of the week and just over a tenth quicker than team-mate Massa managed on Tuesday.

Pedro de la Rosa was just getting into his stride in the striking new Sauber Ferrari 30 minutes into the session. However, light contact trying to pass Nico Hulkenberg in the new Williams left the Spaniard stopped at turn four, bringing out the red flags.

At the lunch break, de la Rosa remains second fastest, half a second off Alonso’s best with Michael Schumacher another three-tenths adrift in the new Mercedes GP W01.

Jaime Alguersuari is fourth fastest for Toro Rosso with Jenson Button fifth in what is his first outing with McLaren Mercedes. Hulkenberg and Vitaly Petrov bring up the rear for Williams and Renault respectively.