Dan Knutson
F1 journalist in Barcelona

Image source, .

There are a few more fans here today compared to yesterday. That’s because local hero Fernando Alonso is driving the McLaren rather than Stoffel Vandoorne. And the weather is nicer today as well. 

Still, the turnout is pretty sparse because today, like all eight days of the test, is a workday and a school day. 

In the past, some tests have overlapped onto weekends.

A couple of minor improvements out on track.

Nico Hulkenberg has the Renault up to seventh place with a 1:23.137 on the medium tyre, while the McLaren of Fernando Alonso is eighth after a 1:23.326 on the soft.

Thirty-five laps and counting for the McLaren now. 

Image source, Getty Images

Nothing tremendously thrilling to report on track at the moment.

It seems Lewis Hamilton is doing heavy-fuel runs in the Mercedes, bimbling around as he is in the 1:25s on the soft tyre.

Fellow afternoon new-boys Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz have both got times on the board running the medium tyre, and are 10th and 11th respectively. 

RIght, the circuit itself is calling the great lap time debate in favour of Massa. 

It's done, done and done. 

Massa's is the time to beat: 1:18.3.

Right, move along people.

A few changes to report since last the cars were in action. 

It seems Renault and Toro Rosso have taken notice of the added mileage Mercedes have been doing by alternating their drivers, so this afternoon Nico Hulkenberg takes over from Jolyon Palmer at Renault and Carlos Sainz is in for Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso. 

At Mercedes - the architects of this cunning scheme - Lewis Hamilton is in for Valtteri Bottas.

So it seems the question of what exactly is the fastest lap around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in its current configuration is a thorny one, with a couple of times bandying around that are clearly at variance with each other (see 11:03 and 12:09).

The estimable Andrew Benson has been fielding a few queries on Twitter about this and has now told me he will "sort it out once and for all".

Best to give him a wide berth when he's in this mood...

And away we go again.

Right. Lunch has been eaten and I'm feeling revived for the afternoon ahead.

Before the cars fire up, the answer to our blurry picture quiz needs disclosing. It was, of course, the Toro Rosso of Sebastian Vettel whacking into the back of Mark Webber's Red Bull at Fuji 2007. 

Harrison Miles was first with the right answer. Honourable mention to the many who thought it was the same two drivers at Turkey 2010. Mwahahaa.‏ 

Thanks for playing along.

Image source, Getty Images

After not doing a teaser yesterday having done three on Monday, I was heartened to see precisely one of you asking after its whereabouts.

So, with that singular gentleman in mind, I present today's lunchtime diversion - the famed Blurry Picture Quiz.

As always, highly-trained BBC boffins have cleverly blurred the below picture using all the advanced tools of their trade. 

What we want to know is the following: WHO is in this picture, WHERE are they, WHEN are they, and WHAT in the wide, wide world of sport is happening. 

We'll have the answer at 13:00 GMT. See you then.

Image source, .

Dan Knutson
F1 journalist in Barcelona

Valtteri Bottas’ unofficial lap time of 1:19.705 is the fastest ever F1 lap around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in its current layout that includes the chicane. The previous best was a 1:19.995 that Mark Webber posted to win the pole for the 2010 Spanish Grand Prix.

Apparently Lance Stroll's Williams is stranded out on the circuit and is being recovered by marshals. 

Not sure of the details but whatever happened occurred right at the end of the session. 

More when we have it.

1. Bottas, Mercedes - 1:19.705 (75 laps) Ultrasoft   

2. Ricciardo, Red Bull - 1:21.153 (48) Soft

3. Palmer, Renault - 1:21.396 (51) Soft     

4. Vettel, Ferrari - 1:21.609 (69) Medium 

5. Ericsson, Sauber - 1:21.824 (54) Supersoft  

6. Stroll, Williams 1:22.351 (56) Soft

7. Celis Jr, Force India - 1:23.781 (39) Soft    

8. Alonso, McLaren - 1:23.832 (28) Soft  

9. Kvyat, Toro Rosso - 1:23.952 (31) Medium 

10. Grosjean, Haas - 1:25.133 (27) Medium 

Most cars are having a quick circulate of the track before the lunch gong gongs. 

No significant improvements to report.,