Rosberg tops first morning of in-season testing at Barcelona

Mercedes is so superior they will win the remainder of the 2015 races

Spanish Grand Prix race winner Nico Rosberg picked up where he left off at the weekend by topping the timesheets on the first morning of this week's in-season Barcelona test.

Barcelona Test – Day 1
POS DRIVER TEAM TIME
1 Rosberg Mercedes 1:24.374
2 Marciello Ferrari 1:26.648
3 Maldonado Lotus 1:27.338
4 Kvyat Red Bull 1:27.684
5 Gasly Toro Rosso 1:28.147
6 Ericsson Sauber 1:28.803
7 Yelloly Force India 1:28.856
8 Turvey McLaren 1:29.730
9 Massa Williams 1:30.433

Nine of F1's teams are taking part in the two-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya this week, with only Manor choosing to skip the opportunity as it does not have any new parts to put on its car.

Rosberg showed no signs of a hangover from his victory celebrations, clocking a fastest time of 1:24.374 midway through the morning as Mercedes worked alongside Pirelli doing tire testing. The lap was set on an unmarked-compound tire and was 0.3s quicker than the time that secured his pole position three days earlier. What's more the lap was recorded during a seven-lap run, which means the Mercedes was running a heavier fuel load than it was during qualifying on Saturday. More than anything the lap underlines the difference a 66-lap race has on track conditions at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Ferrari academy member and Sauber reserve driver Raffaele Marciello was second fastest and 2.274s off the pace after 47 laps in the Ferrari. In accordance with in-season testing regulations, at least one day of the test has to be handed over to a driver with less than three races of F1 experience, giving the likes of Marciello a chance to impress the top teams. The main aim for Ferrari this week is to gain a better understanding of the aerodynamic package that failed to offer the step forward the team had hoped for at the Spanish Grand Prix. Ex-Sauber driver and Ferrari reserve Esteban Gutierrez will continue the work on Wednesday. espn.co.uk