According to the AP, Red Bull driver Mark Webber was fastest in testing today at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona – the last round of testing before allowed before the season-opening race on March 14 in Bahrain. The Australian had a blistering run of 1 minute, 21.487 seconds, almost one second quicker than nearest rival Nico Hulkenberg of Williams.

In fact, Webber’s run was so strong that only three other drivers (Nico Rosberg, Pedro De la Rosa and reigning champion Jenson Button) were within two seconds of his time. However, Webber cautioned that while the team was strong, there were plenty of challengers.

“Clearly we have the pace. I hope that we will be strong,” Webber said ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. “But your Spanish friend won’t be far behind.”

That “Spanish friend” is Fernando Alonso, who could only get his car up to the seventh-fastest time in testing during a day marred by mechanical problems. However, it should be noted that Webber ended the day needing a tow back to the garage after experiencing unspecified problems on the track.

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