02/03/2013
NEWS STORY
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As widely anticipated, conditions are altogether better than on the first two days of the test, with the air temperature reaching 14 degrees C and the track temperature hitting 29 degrees. There's even been some sunshine!
As previously reported, Kimi Raikkonen has withdrawn from duty today, the Finn thought to be suffering a stomach bug. This morning he has been replaced by reserve driver Davide Valsecchi however, Romain Grosjean is also heading back to the Spanish track.
Unfortunately, Valsecchi was the cause of one of this morning's red flags, the Italian stopping on track at Turn 3 just one hour into his session. Shortly before that, Giedo van der Garde stopped with a mechanical problem at Turn 5.
Other than Hamilton's pace, media attention has also focussed on Jules Bianchi, who last night, hours after learning that he had lost the Force India seat to Adrian Sutil, was recruited by Marussia to replace Luiz Razia.
The improved conditions, which are expected again tomorrow, mean that the team are able to try out updates they were unwilling earlier in the test as well as bringing further new parts.
Midday Times - All Times Unofficial
| Name | Team | Laps | Time | Gap |
| Hamilton | Mercedes | 56 | 1:20.558 | 129.264 mph |
| Sutil | Force India | 51 | 1:21.627 | 1.069 |
| Massa | Ferrari | 63 | 1:21.673 | 1.115 |
| Maldonado | Williams | 34 | 1:22.305 | 1.747 |
| Gutierrez | Sauber | 47 | 1:22.553 | 1.995 |
| Perez | McLaren | 50 | 1:22.694 | 2.136 |
| Webber | Red Bull | 36 | 1:23.116 | 2.558 |
| Vergne | Toro Rosso | 41 | 1:23.223 | 2.665 |
| Valsecchi | Lotus | 16 | 1:23.448 | 2.890 |
| Bianchi | Marussia | 37 | 1:24.307 | 3.749 |
| Van der Garde | Caterham | 54 | 1:24.520 | 3.962 |
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.