Paul di Resta leads the way at Jerez as the first day of testing reaches halfway, while Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button both encounter problems

The Scot posted his best time just before midday, on the third lap of a six lap run.

Prior to that, Daniel Ricciardo had been the pace-setter, the Australian posting his 20.401 on a nine lap run.

While Maldonado has been busiest this morning, completing 52 laps, Mark Webber completed one of the longest runs, after which he completed a string of two-lap stints.

While it was Nico Hulkenberg who got proceedings underway, followed by Webber, Jenson Button had the dubious honour of bringing out the first red flag of the year, the Englishman thought to have been sidelined by a fuel pick up problem.

Following his return to the pits, which saw McLaren using every trick in the book to keep prying eyes at bay, the Englishman has yet to run again.

There were problems for Nico Rosberg also, who, shortly after posting the best time (20.846) stopped on track with smoke pouring from the back of the car. While it was initially thought to be an engine problem, it was actually a problem with the rear bodywork which subsequently caught fire. At the time the German was on an eight-lap run.

Morning Times - All Times Unofficial