Lotus-Renault’s French driver Romain Grosjean posted the fastest lap on the first day of final testing ahead of the start of the new Formula One season.

Grosjean clocked a best time of 1min 23.252 to head the standings at the Circuit de Catalunya at Montmelo, north of Barcelona, on Thursday.

This represented a welcome upturn in fortunes for his team who were forced to skip the first week of testing last month.

The French driver bettered the time set by McLaren’s Jenson Button’s in the opening session of 1min 23.510 in the final quarter of an hour having completed 73 laps.

Ferrari had a low-key session, Felipe Massa coming in eighth as the team get to grips with their new car.

Two of the 12 F1 teams – HRT and Marussia, who raced as Virgin last year – were absent again.

HRT are hoping to have their car ready for a run out on the final day’s testing on Sunday, while Marussia will not be able to test at all after failing a mandatory crash test.

This is the third and final batch of testing before the 2012 F1 campaign starts in Melbourne on March 18.

Leading times: 1. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault) 1:23.252 (73 laps), 2. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:23.510 (64), 3. Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:23.820 (118), 4. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault) 1:23.830 (102), 5. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG) 1:23.992 (128), 6. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1:24.216 (113), 7. Paul Di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes) 1:24.305 (98), 8. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1:24.318 (105), 9. Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Caterham-Renault) 1:24.876 (123), 10. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault) 1:25.587 (58)