For the first time since narrowly missing the 2007 championship in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton returned to the formula one track on Wednesday.
The British driver set the quickest time of the 20 drivers in action, but not before needing his McLaren to be recovered from a gravel trap following a spin.
Tuesday’s quickest runner Nick Heidfeld, meanwhile, languished at the bottom of the times.
“I have been using 50 per cent less downforce in preparation for 2009,” the BMW driver explained to the Swiss newspaper Blick.
World champion Kimi Raikkonen was third quickest ahead of his teammate Felipe Massa, and the Finn uniquely had two separate Ferraris available to him.
Christian Klien won Wednesday’s Force India shootout against Giancarlo Fisichella on slicks, but the veteran Roman was narrowly quicker than his Austrian adversary when both used grooved tyres.
Expected 2008 Toyota racer Jarno Trulli, meanwhile, will test at Jerez alongside the team’s newcomer Timo Glock on Thursday.
