30/01/2014
NEWS STORY
For the third successive day, the Renault powered teams have encountered problems, between them completing just 33 laps over the course of the morning.
Taking over from Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull new boy Daniel Ricciardo didn't complete his first lap before encountering a problem, the Australian stopping out on track with smoke pouring from the back of his car. Even worse, watching proceedings from the sidelines was Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz.
Things were slightly better for sister team Toro Rosso where Jean-Eric Vergne (pictured) has completed 22 laps, albeit with a best time over 20s off the pace. Then again, with the team not having turned a wheel yesterday this is a marked improvement.
The third Renault powered team, Caterham, where Robin Frijns is on duty today, has completed 8 laps but has yet to post a time.
Jenson Button, who is in the McLaren for the morning only, having not had any running on Tuesday, currently tops the timesheets, the Briton handing over to Kevin Magnussen for the remainder of the test.
Other than the red flag that followed Ricciardo's problem there was a stoppage when Fernando Alonso ground to a halt in T10.
The Spaniard is one of a number of drivers making their first appearance of 2014, former teammate Felipe Massa at the wheel of the Williams today.
Busiest man this morning was Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver completing 45 laps on his way to posting the third quickest time.
While the Marussia MR03 arrived last night it has yet to leave it garage, the Anglo-Russian outfit hoping to get some running later this afternoon.
Today's Times - All Times Unofficial
| Name | Team | Laps | Time | Gap |
| Button | McLaren | 40 | 1:25.030 | 116.490 mph |
| Alonso | Ferrari | 32 | 1:25.495 | 0.465 |
| Hamilton | Mercedes | 45 | 1:25.973 | 0.943 |
| Massa | Williams | 24 | 1:27.286 | 2.256 |
| Sutil | Sauber | 28 | 1:30.161 | 5.131 |
| Hulkenberg | Force India | 6 | 1:30.205 | 5.175 |
| Vergne | Toro Rosso | 22 | 1:48.151 | 23.121 |
| Frijns | Caterham | 8 | No Time | |
| Ricciardo | Red Bull | 3 | No Time | |
| Magnussen | McLaren | 0 | No Time |
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