Mercedes' Hamilton fastest in Barcelona tests

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) –

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton steers his Mercedes’ racecar during testing at the Catalunya Circuit near Barcelona, on February 28, 2013.

Britain’s former world champion Lewis Hamilton went fastest Thursday in the opening morning session of the third and last week of testing ahead of the 2013 Grand Prix season.

Hamilton, getting to grips with his new Mercedes drive, clocked 1 minute 41.614 seconds in cold, rainy conditions at the Catalunya Circuit near Barcelona.

The conditions meant that times were considerably slower than they were last week at the same venue.

Winter testing will conclude on Saturday ahead of the season’s opening Grand Prix in Australia on March 17.

Top times in Formula One testing on Thursday morning (Times, laps):

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:41.614 43

2. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1:41.848 40

3. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso) 1:42.155 38

4. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull) 1:43.649 44

5. Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India) 1:44.444 33

6. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Sauber) 1:45.020 47

7. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus) 1:45.147 29

8. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) 1:45.457 44

9. Charles Pic (FRA/Caterham) 1:47.521 31

10. Sergio Perez (MEX/Mercedes) 1:48.562 23

11. Max Chilton (GBR/Marussia) 1:50.253 34