THE RETURNING KIMI Raikkonen started as he means to go on in the first day of pre-season testing at Jerez, topping the timesheet of the 12-driver field.
Raikkonen recently signed a deal to drive with Lotus after a two-year spell in the World Rally Championship, and recorded a best time of 1:19.670 around the Spanish circuit on Tuesday.
Raikkonen edged out Force India’s Paul di Resta by one tenth of a second, while Nico Rosberg was third in the 2011 Mercedes, while Mark Webber came four in the brand new Red Bull RB8.
Ferrari and McLaren had muted first sessions, with both Felipe Massa and Jenson Button content to remain more than a second and a half adrift of the pace set by Raikkonen.
Provisional Tuesday times from Jerez:
1. Raikkonen 1:19.670 75 laps
2. Di Resta 1:19.772 101
3. Rosberg 1:20.219 56
4. Webber 1:20.496 54
5. Ricciardo 1:20.694 57
6. Schumacher 1:20.794 42
7. Kobayashi 1:21.353 106
8. Button 1:21.350 62
9. Massa 1:22.815 69
10. Kovalainen 1:23.178 28
11. Maldonado 1:23.371 25
12. De la Rosa 1:23.676 44
