Rosberg fastest on opening day of mid-season test

Nico Rosberg set the fastest time of the first mid-season test of 2015 at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Rosberg completed 146 laps in the W06 and was over two seconds clear of the rest of the field.

Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson was second fastest, 2.2 seconds slower than Rosberg’s benchmark.

Ferrari protégé Raffaele Marciello got his hands on the Ferrari SF15-T for the first time this season. The 20-year old completed 122 laps and was third fastest.

Daniil Kvyat set a 1:26.904 which was enough to be fourth fastest ahead of Lotus’ Pastor Maldonado.

GP2 drivers Nick Yelloy and Pierre Gasly enjoyed outings at Force India and Toro Rosso respectively.

Yelloy completed 109 laps in the Force India whilst Gasly completed 129 on his début Formula One outing.

After finishing sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix, Felipe Massa was back out in the Williams, completing 54 laps before handing over to Williams test driver and reigning GP3 champion Alex Lynn for day two of the test in Barcelona.

McLaren’s Oliver Turvey was slowest of the nine runners however completed a respectable 66 laps in the MP4-30.

Manor will not participate on either days of the test.

On day two of the test, Mercedes will run Pascal Wehrlein whilst Esteban Gutierrez will get his first outing for Ferrari. Alex Lynn will replace Felipe Massa at Williams. Gasly will drive for Red Bull, Marciello will be in the Sauber and Jolyon Palmer gets another outing for Lotus. Toro Rosso will run Sainz Jr whilst Jenson Button will drive for McLaren. Force India are yet to confirm who will drive the VJM08.