Day three of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona
Session hit by snow
Some days are great, some days are frustrating. This one falls into the second category.
But don't worry, we will be back tomorrow at 08:00 GMT as Gary Rose guides you through the fourth day of testing in what will be a chaotic day in beautiful weather out in Spain.
Anyway, thanks for keeping me company and for your comments. See you next time.
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer
Image source, ReutersThe third day of pre-season testing was a write-off as a result of snow, rain and freezing weather at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The start was delayed for more than three hours because the medical helicopter was unable to fly in the poor conditions after overnight snow.
Only five drivers ventured out of the pits and only Alonso set a timed lap.
McLaren's Fernando Alonso was the first out on track and he joked that the "car is performing well in the snow so far".
His fastest time of two minutes 18.545 seconds was a minute off a fast dry lap time as the Spaniard managed 11 laps in total.
Alonso, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley were the only drivers to complete more than one lap - 11 for Alonso and two each for Ricciardo and Hartley - and Ricciardo had a trip through the gravel but was able to extricate his car and return to the pits.
As temperatures climbed slowly above freezing in the afternoon, the early snow and sleet turned to heavy rain, but Ricciardo's mishap emphasised why running was so restricted - teams wanted to avoid risking damaging their cars.
And here is the man of the day.
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Just as we are getting going, it is all over.
Er, that's it.
Others to get out on the track
Seventeen laps in total, 11 of them by the fantastic Fernando Alonso. You sir, have saved the day.
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#bbcf1
Gary Honey: I gotta say "well done" to Michael for running the Live Reporting today, it must have felt like the longest day of your life? I'm looking forward to #TonUpThursday, external when everyone does > 100 laps to make up for it.
Thanks Gary, appreciate it. I'm not with you tomorrow, Gary Rose is the man to describe Ton Up Thursday.
P1 for Alonso, P1 for McLaren.
They have quite simply been unrivalled today. All those McLaren fans worried about the car's performance. Where are they today?
OK, OK, OK, yes they're the only car to have set a time, but still, let's celebrate that.
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Wait, what's this?
Like an oasis in the desert, something bizarre has just appeared on my F1 timing app.
A time. It can't be. A time. It is.
It has the numbers 2:21.268 next to the name of Fernando Alonso, a full minute slower than what we saw on day one and two, but we'll take it.
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When was the last time you could say that one driver has done half of the total laps in a testing session?
That is Fernando Alonso's claim today. Five out of the 10 done for him, two for Daniel Ricciardo, one for Marcus Ericsson, one for Robert Kubica and one for Brendon Hartley,
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This is as exciting as day three has been. Daniel Ricciardo went on to the gravel on one of his two laps. That's been about it.
Image source, Getty ImagesThree out of the eight laps now have been done by Fernando Alonso. Most reliable car today. Well, sort of.
When Formula 1 raced in extreme conditions
Rick Crowther: Monaco GP 96. Oliver Panis winning in torrential rain from 14th on the grid ... in a Ligier. Only three cars finished. You could have driven round in a boxcart and still picked up some points.
Dave Leuchars: 2007 European GP at the Nurburgring. Deluge on the first lap and utter chaos- several cars in the gravel at turn one, Hamilton craned out and carried on! Spyker leading at one point, and a brilliant Alonso win in the end.
Image source, Getty ImagesDavid Coulthard in action during the 2007 European Grand Prix
Another lap for Fernando Alonso. That's two for him, two for Daniel Ricciardo and one apiece for Marcus Ericsson, Robert Kubica and Brendon Hartley.
Apologies, earlier on I had said Lance Stroll went out after getting some dodgy info from Formula 1's timing app. He didn't, so sorry about that.
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A quiet day today, but that will mean tomorrow is going to be very, very busy. Hopefully.
There have not been many chances for the photographers to take pictures of the cars out on track.
Enjoy this tweet, treasure it, come back to it and look at it again.
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When Formula 1 raced in extreme conditions
Euan: What about Malaysia 2009? The race where a monsoon turned up and Kimi decided to quit and go get an ice cream.
James Macdonald: One of the best crazy weather races I can remember was the Brazilian GP '03. A river at T3 catching loads of drivers out, Webber and Alonso's monster crashes leading to a red flag, and a Jordan win so inexplicable we only knew about it the following week.
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Chris Lord: At least you had a half decent lunch time today? Every cloud?
Indeed. I can't moan about no food today, unlike yesterday when lunch was cancelled. Today's moan is no action on the track. Food and action on the track, not too much to ask for, is it?
Hope is fading. Looks like being a frustrating day for everyone.
When Formula 1 raced in extreme conditions
Christopher Fenter: Conversely to the longest GP in history (JB's Canada 2011 epic) I recall Adelaide 1991, the shortest. Cars aquaplaning into the wall, strewn either side of the main straight, other cars unable to see them. Stopped after just 16 laps following multiple accidents.
Gary Honey: If you want a true test of intrepid driver bravery, the 2000 British Grand Prix, held in April, was pretty extreme.....but only for those of us who parked in the muddy car parks
Image source, Getty ImagesAyrton Senna and Nigel Mansell pictured battling the elements, and each other, in Adelaide 1991
Dan Knutson
F1 journalist in Barcelona
The tanker truck is making its rounds in the rain to fill the fuel tanks in the team transporters.
The fuel is used to run the generators which provide the electric power – and run the heaters! – in the engineer offices and debriefing rooms.
Image source, Getty ImagesLess than two hours ago. Any late action for us? Please. Anyone.