Red Bull's Mark Webber was the pace-setter as the final pre-season test got underway at Barcelona today.

Bahrain - Qualifying Quotes

On Thursday afternoon Virgin Racing driver Lucas di Grassi heavily crashed his car at turn nine at Circuit de Catalunya. The Brazilian was running with experimental control settings on the car which were adversely affecting the car's handling. The team expects the car to be ready though to get back on track Friday morning.

Nico Rosberg kicked off Mercedes Grand Prix´ week of testing at Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday. The German completed 107 laps with a quickest time of 1.22.514. Rosberg mainly focussed on set-up work with the MGP W01 car and he also busied himself with the team's race weekend procedures such as qualifying and pit stop simulations.

Mark Webber thinks his Red Bull team are ahead of their rivals after setting the pace on the first day of the final pre-season test.

Today's test times from Barcelona, Day 1 of the final pre-season test.

On the first day of what will be the final week of testing ahead of the 2010 Formula 1 world championship season Mark Webber completed the fastest lap at Circuit de Catalunya. The Red Bull ended ahead of Williams' Nico Hulkenberg and Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg.

Indian Karun Chandhok is poised to make his Formula 1 debut for the Campos team in 2010, BBC Sport has learned.

In what will surely go down in history as one of the most thrilling GP2 qualifying sessions ever, Frenchman Jules Bianchi snatched his first GP2 pole position in an extremely close battle with series leader Davide Valsecchi.

Qualifying times for the Feature race at Bahrain

Pictures as the teams make their final preparations for the season

Stefan Grand Prix team owner Zoran Stefanovic is confident that his team will be on the starting grid for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in just over two week's time. Furthermore, the Serbian businessman believes that significant developments will take place between now and this time next week.

A sizeable accident for Lucas di Grassi has brought Virgin Racing's day of testing at Barcelona to an abrupt and premature end on Thursday. The Brazilian driver lost control of his car at Campsa corner before heading into the tyre barriers backwards. The team now awaits a parts delivery before rejoining the action tomorrow.             

Robert Kubica says he has been rejuvenated by his move to Renault for 2010, plus other gossip and rumours.

The new US F1 team are virtually certain of failing to make the grid this season, while rivals Campos insist they will be at the first race.

Mark Webber heads the timesheets at lunchtime on the first day of the final pre-season test.

World champion Jenson Button and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso are among the stars in action on the first day of the final pre-season test in Barcelona.

iSport's Italian ace, Davide Valsecchi, set the fastest time in this morning's free practice session at Sakhir with a 1:44.852, but Jules Bianchi (ART) and teammate Oliver Turvey were only two-hundredths behind.

Today's free practice times from Bahrain, round 3 of the 2009-2010 GP2 Asia Series

Thursday morning signals the start of the final, crucial pre-season test prior to the start of the 2010 season in a fortnight's time. After visiting Valencia at the start of the month and Jerez twice since then, Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya is the third and final Spanish venue as teams hope for a full test of dry running.