F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Jerez: "Pastor Maldonado did one lap and then pitted. The left front wing and left side of the Lotus was covered in green flow-vis paint that shows where and how the air is flowing around the car."

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg pits, takes on the dry tyres and heads back out in an attempt to reclaim top spot on the timesheets.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen goes second with a 1:33.454 and then moves to the summit of the timesheets with a 1:29.228, three seconds clear of Nico Rosberg.

That lap was set on dry tyres, while Rosberg's was on the intermediates. Expect the rest of the field to switch to dry tyres shortly as a dry line emerges.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Of the teams we know have survived the winter, only Force India were behind Lotus in terms of readiness for the start of testing. Force India have stayed in the UK and are planning only to do the final two Barcelona tests. Lotus, meanwhile, after planning to miss the first two days in Jerez because of delays in preparing the car, managed to get themselves ahead of schedule and Pastor Maldonado did a useful 29 laps on Monday before he was halted by a drivetrain failure.

"He said the car was 'a different car, not a continuation of last year', which is probably no bad thing after Lotus's dire 2014. 'We ran with a lot of fuel, we didn't touch the set-up, but the car seems to be consistent, quite reactive, easy to feel, the sensations are good. It's a good day, a good first day,' the Venezuelan said."

Good stuff from McLaren and Fernando Alonso at the moment with 27 laps on the board. Only Nico Rosberg and Mercedes have done more on 41.

Lotus say they have sorted their telemetry issue, with Pastor Maldonado heading out for an installation lap.

Nico Rosberg sneaks past Fernando Alonso at Turn One after the McLaren driver runs wide.

Image source, McLaren

Jenson Button is wrapped up with a cuppa as he and McLaren racing director Eric Boullier follow Fernando Alonso's progress in the garage.

Here are the day's headlines:

• Nico Rosberg sets the pace in the Mercedes on a damp day in Jerez

• McLaren finally get some laps on the board, with Fernando Alonso managing 20

• Felipe Nasr spins, bringing out the first red flag of the day

• Lotus have yet to run because of telemetry issues

Kimi Raikkonen goes fifth fastest in the Ferrari, four second off the pace set by Nico Rosberg.

Image source, Red Bull on Twitter

Red Bull:, external "As the team continue their work in Jerez, the factory has received a bit of a white paint job of its own overnight."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

"Fernando Alonso is not exactly setting the timing screens on fire but nevertheless this is a much more encouraging morning so far from the McLaren-Honda. After just two hours, the two-time champion has already completed nearly 20 laps - more than the Honda engine had completed over four previous days in a McLaren at this test and the post-season one in Abu Dhabi. Even once the track dries out, though, don't expect Alonso to start posting quick laps.

"The key for McLaren-Honda this week is to learn how and whether the car works, in terms of reliability rather than performance. As team-mate Jenson Button said on Monday: 'It won't be about set-up work, it'll be putting mileage on it. The important thing is to get our heads down and work through all the systems. We will not be setting the world on fire with lap times or laps on circuit. We are still at zero in terms of understanding our performance."

Fernando Alonso is clocking up the laps in the McLaren. The Spaniard has managed 16, which is more than was achieved on day one and day two combined. It looks like things are starting to go in the right direction.

Sauber report that Felipe Nasr went wide in corner eight and ran into the gravel. "No real damage," they add., external "The team is getting the car ready again."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

"Sauber have been second fastest on both days so far, while both Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr have had a day each in the car. The team are desperately hoping the C34 is a step forward from last year's model, which gave the team the worst season in its history.

"But the car looks noticeably more bulky than some of its rivals and the appearance of both men towards the top of the speed trap times suggests it is running pretty light on fuel. The team, though, are making positive noises, and head of track engineering Giampaolo Dall'Ara says they 'seem to have a good basis to work from'."

Image source, Mercedes

Mercedes:, external Meanwhile, back in Brackley... can we just stay @circuitodejerez until the next test @Circuitcat_eng [Circuit Catalunya in Barcelona] please?! #Brrr

We've not seen the Lotus yet and here's why: "Still chasing a pesky telemetry issue this morning, Cliff Richard playing, hopefully out soon," tweet the team., external

Fernando Alonso is back out in the McLaren, along with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr.

And we're go, go, go again in Jerez!

The Sauber is back in the pits, which means the session should get under way again shortly.