Kimi Raikkonen fires Alfa Romeo top of time sheets with fastest lap of F1 pre-season

Kimi Raikkonen put his Alfa Romeo on top of the time sheets with the fastest lap of Formula One pre-season testing.

The former Ferrari driver eclipsed the best lap of the week, posted by his old team-mate Sebastian Vettel, in the moments before lunch on day three.

Raikkonen set a time of 1 minute and 17.762 seconds to become the first driver this week to dip beneath the 1 minute 18 second mark at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

Kimi Raikkonen put his Alfa Romeo on top of the time sheets with the fastest lap of pre-season

Raikkonen has been in inspired form and bettered the lap of the week, set by Sebastian Vettel

Vettel finished the morning running behind Raikkonen, half-a-second slower than the 2007 world champion.

Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will be back in the cockpit of his Mercedes on Wednesday afternoon, while Williams also hope to be in action.

The British team have missed the opening two-and-a-half days after failing to get their new car ready in time.

Hamilton has said this week he is not concerned by the solid early form of Ferrari, who look poised to be the main rival candidates again this season.

They (Ferrari) have been looking great,’ Hamilton, who will be chasing his sixth title, told reporters. 

‘For us it’s been just digging deep, trying to understand the car, Pretty much the same as the beginning of every year.

‘The Ferraris always look strong, particularly in the last few years they look very strong right at the beginning so it’s to be expected.’