Nico Rosberg of Germany recorded the fastest time in the early session on on Sunday’s fourth day of pre-season testing at the Catalunya circuit.

Rosberg steered his Mercedes to a lap time of 1min 20.130sec, three-tenths of a second faster than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso of Spain.

Like his new Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton the previous day, Rosberg set down an impressive marker and stole the thunder from Alonso and triple world champion Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull on the final day of winter testing.

Another former champion, Jenson Button of Britain in a McLaren, was third fastest – almost a second slower than Alonso, while Vettel could clock only the seventh fastest lap, more than two seconds slower than the Spaniard.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was tenth fastest with a time of 1min 23.628sec.

The new season starts in Melbourne on March 17.

Leading times

1. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 1:20.130

2. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) 1:20.494

3. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:21.444

4. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:21.541

5. Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes) 1:21.664

6. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault) 1:22.415

7. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault) 1:22.514

8. Charles Pic (FRA/Caterham-Renault) 1:23.115

9. Jules Bianchi (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth) 1:23.167

10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1:23.628

11. Kimi Rikknen (FIN/Lotus-Renault) 1:25.228