Button fastest for McLaren

The final morning of Jerez testing saw fine conditions and the times really start to fall with Jenson Button setting the pace in his McLaren Mercedes MP4-25. The defending champion only completed 26 laps, but his best of 1:18.871s is the fastest time so far in the pre-season tests and two-tenths clear of the field.

Robert Kubica completed some low-fuel runs early on in his Renault before switching to a heady fuel load. His early runs saw him consistently lapping in the one minute 19s, finally stopping the clocks at 1:19.114s, an encouraging 0.243s off the ultimate pace.

Tonio Liuzzi was third fastest in his Mercedes-powered Force India ahead of Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes. Fernando Alonso conducted some long runs in the F10 looking at tyre wear rates and was fifth fastest.

Sauber Ferrari endured a slight hiccup in the programme as Kamui Kobayashi stopped on track on just his third timed lap of the morning, but the Japanese racer was soon back out in the promising C29, recording the sixth fastest time ahead of Jaime Alguersuari, Mark Webber and Nico Hulkenberg.

Timo Glock completed just eight laps in new Virgin Cosworth and was tenth while Jarno Trulli made his debut with Lotus this morning and after some adjustments in the cockpit, was soon lapping more comfortably.

A full report to follow at the close of play.