Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso Get To Know Their New Machines

Today was the final day of preseason testing in Valencia, and with three world champions on display (two of whom were testing their new machines for the first time), it was shaping up to be an interesting event!

So we had the legend that is Fernando Alonso in his new Ferrari, Jenson Button in the McLaren, and Michael Schumacher in corporate GP...cough...sorry, Mercedes GP.

Joining these three in Valencia were Renault, Sauber, and Williams.

It took Jens a little while to set his first time. (He was probably busy having his photo taken beaming next to the No. 1 car.) Meanwhile, Fernando was getting down to business and setting a time of 1:11.905. This was only about 0.2 seconds slower than Felipe Massa's fastest lap set over the past two days.

Jenson justifiably spent a lengthy period in the garage before taking to the track. His first time was a P5, 1:13:783. During this time, Fernando was topping the sheets with a 1:11:837; that Ferrari looks tasty. However, we must remember that fuel loads aren’t being shared, and it could all just be PR stuff. Still...that Ferrari looks tasty!

By late morning, Fernando was unstoppable. He set the fastest time of the last three days (1:11:599). Meanwhile, Jenson was still lapping around P5 (of seven) with a 1:13:438.

In the early afternoon, Jenson began to find some pace in his new car and took around a second off his morning times; he was now lapping around 1:12:951. However, last year's champ was still almost a second-and-a-half off the pace of my 2010 tip for champion, Mr. Alonso.

As the afternoon developed, it was clear that only one man was going to finish on top, and sure enough, Fernando finished the day on a 1:11:470. He was followed by Pedro de la Rosa (1:12.094), Schumacher (1:12.438), Jaime Alguersuari (1:12.576), Button (1:12.951), Vitaly Petrov (1:13.097), and Nico Hulkenberg (1:13.669).

I don’t think it is a bad reflection on Jenson that he finished fifth out of seven today; he was just getting to used to a new car. McLarens look strong then, but all agreed that Ferraris were fast!

Over 30,000 fans apparently turned up to see Alonso today. Let's hope that these keen F1 fanatics are rewarded by a close and exciting 2010 season. From their showing these past three days, it looks as if the Ferrari fans amongst them will not be disappointed!