Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Fernando Alonso described what was effectively McLaren's first proper day of testing with the Honda engine as a 'beautiful day', as well he might when the 59 laps he achieved almost matched the total the team managed over the entire four days of the first test in Jerez earlier this month.

"And considering the car was running with a botched fix on the Honda engine after a hybrid system failure on Thursday, the times weren't bad, either. 'Today finally showed to the team, to all of us, that we are in the right direction,' Alonso said. 'The potential of the car is there, with limitations or not the car feels good, feels quick.'

"Jenson Button is back in the car today, and with what Honda hope will be a definitive fix for the hybrid problem they suffered on Thursday."

Despite McLaren's struggles on Thursday, they had a much better day yesterday as Fernando Alonso set the sixth-fastest time and completed more than 50 laps after McLaren had cobbled together a fix for the engine problem that hampered Jenson Button.

Good timing Nick, JB has just rolled out onto the circuit in the McLaren. Button will be hoping for plenty of running this morning having had to call a halt to proceedings after just 21 laps on Thursday.

Sebastian Vettel is back out too for Ferrari after his early venture into the gravel this morning.

Nick:, external Any sign of Jenson Button in the McLaren yet?

John Passman:, external "I have a feeling it will be a Mercedes again, unless Ferrari really have made a massive leap."

Lewis Hamilton, on medium tyres, has been steadily improving and sets a new benchmark time of 1:26.142s.

Max Verstappen and Pascal Wehrlein both clock their first timed efforts - 1:32.195s and 1:36.599s respectively. Verstappen then improves to 1:31.253s.

I've just realised I've been rambling away without any input from you good people, so let's stick a question or two out there shall we?

Simple really, who has impressed you the most in testing so far? Do you think this season will be more competitive? Who is your (very early) tip for the title and why?

Let us know via #bbcf1, external and, if you are old school, send us a text on 81111 (UK only)

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"It was Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo who grabbed the headlines on Friday, edging out Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari and Felipe Massa's Williams for fastest time. And perhaps more importantly for Red Bull it was their first day without any major reliability problems. Ricciardo said this was 'better' and that it was 'encouraging to see us in the front group of cars'.

"The Renault engine, too, is an improvement: 'It definitely has some more ponies; we knew it would. it was a question of how much we could close the gap. we're not as fast in the speed traps but we have more to come.'"

Image source, Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing:, external Thumbs up from Dany. He's good to go for Day Three!

Lewis Hamilton improves to 1:33.246s before shaving almost three seconds off that time as he continues to rack up the laps early doors.

We're expecting some rain later, so there's a good chance teams will be getting as much running as they can under their belts this morning.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Mercedes

"Was Friday the day Formula 1 finally glimpsed the potential of the 2015 Mercedes?

"It had been a low-key pre-season until then, but when Lewis Hamilton unleashed a lap only 0.3secs off the pace on tyres that were at least a second a lap slower than those used by everyone ahead of him, it did not take much imagination to work out what that probably meant. And race simulation runs done simultaneously by Hamilton and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo only strengthened that impression. Hamilton's average lap time was a whopping 0.816secs quicker than Ricciardo's.

"They were on different tyre strategies, but that is quite some margin."

Lewis Hamilton, who recovered from illness to get some track time under his belt on Friday, had snuck his installation lap in before Sebastian Vettel's spin into the gravel, so he is our first driver to pop a time on the board - 1m33.364s.

Williams:, external Install lap done, so Felipe Massa returns to the the garage reporting track conditions are 'Okay' #weareracing

The track is once again green and cars are streaming out. Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes, as well as Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado, Daniil Kvyat and Pacal Wherlein.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

"If Sebastian Vettel has indeed lost control of the Ferrari and dropped it on his first lap out of the pits, he can console himself with the thought that he is not the first great champion to suffer such an embarrassment.

"Those with long memories may recall that Alain Prost spun off on the warm-up lap for the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix. Vettel might not want to recall what happened later that season, though. Prost was sacked for making critical comments about the car."

F1 journalist Dan Knutson in Barcelona: "After two sunny days, a front has moved in on the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya and rain is forecast for later in the day.

"The air temperature is 6.8C and the track temperature was 9.4C when the green light at the end of the pit lane signalled the start of the day."

Sebastian Vettel's stranded Ferrari has been lifted onto the recovery truck and the circuit is clear. Take two...

Mercedes:, external Scratch that - red flags out almost instantly. Lewis Hamilton back at base reporting a rather slippery surface.

Image source, Mercedes

Mercedes:, external "It's green light and away we go! Lewis Hamilton at the wheel today... let's do this!"