Webber: We're in better shape than other teams

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber set the standard on the opening day in Barcelona and declared they are in "better shape than the other teams".

But, given the nature of the forthcoming season's re-fuelling ban, with cars potentially carrying anything up to 160 kilograms of fuel on board, times continue to be notoriously difficult to judge.

As Mercedes-Benz Motorsport boss Norbert Haug remarked: "It's just impossible. It's guesswork."

Which is why Haug was unconcerned Webber's best lap at the Circuit de Catalunya of one minute 21.487 seconds was a second quicker than any of his rivals, headed by Williams' Nico Hulkenberg.

In contrast, that time is 2.5secs slower than the quickest set in testing at the same track a year ago by Rubens Barrichello for Brawn GP.

Haug fully expects Webber's time to be surpassed over the next three days as teams begin to focus more on their set-up for the opening grand prix in Bahrain on March 14.

A happy Webber said: "Every day is crucial but we're in better shape than the other teams.

"This team is one of the best, if not the best, in the pit-lane in terms of what we've done last year and what we're doing this year, so we are very confident going into Bahrain."

Virgin Racing's Lucas di Grassi only managed 31 laps after running into a barrier and damaging the car, denying him track time in the afternoon due to a lack of spare parts.

Technical director Nick Wirth said: "We're going to need to spend the time before tomorrow replacing some broken suspension and wings.

"We should be back on track tomorrow morning when we hope to really start building up our mileage."

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