More problems for Mercedes as Huelkenberg sets pace in F1 testing

Feb 22, 2012, 17:14 GMT

Barcelona - Mercedes experienced problems for the second day of testing ahead of the Formula One season while Force India's Nico Huelkenberg set the pace in Barcelona.

The German's best lap time of 1 minute 22.608 seconds in the morning could not be topped at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Sauber's Sergio Perez second, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel third and Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari fourth with a fast late lap.

Mercedes, who on Tuesday were the last of the top teams to present their new car, ran into a second day of problems.

An oil leak in the W03's gear system prevented Nico Rosberg running in the afternoon, while team-mate Michael Schumacher had a break from testing. On Tuesday the car had experienced hydraulic problems.

On Tuesday, Lotus, who raced as Renault last year, had to abandon testing after a major chassis problem which will lose them a crucial four days of testing.

Initial plans to bring out a replacement chassis were shelved to give the team enough time to rectify the problem, a team statement said. The team will return for testing next week in Barcelona.

World champion Vettel used the afternoon to simulate a race in the Red Bull RB8 on his last session in the second round of pre-season testing for him.

Team-mate Mark Webber will be in the seat on Thursday and Friday, with Vettel returning to Red Bull headquarters in Milton Keynes, England to use the simulator.

The season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 18.