Adrian Sutil makes a return
Adrian Sutil makes a returnCredit: Sahara Force India Formula One Team
Hülkenberg slows things down in a hurry
Hülkenberg slows things down in a hurryCredit: Sauber Motorsport AG
Time out at Toro Rosso
Time out at Toro RossoCredit: Getty Images
Giedo brings up the rear in his green machine
Giedo brings up the rear in his green machineCredit: Caterham F1

Fernando Alonso proved that his delayed start to pre-season testing in 2013 has had little effect on his performance, as the Ferrari driver posted the fastest time of the third day in Barcelona. The flying laps were set in the morning, despite cooler temperatures, as the afternoon was reserved for longer race simulation runs.

Hülkenberg put in almost 100 laps and managed to set the second fastest time in his Sauber, with Romain Grosjean taking over duties from Kimi Räikkönen and completing the third fastest time.

Last year I was jumping in the car in testing and trying to go as fast as I could. This year I am trying to get as much knowledge as I can. It's a bit different. I know where we can work and what we can do. And yeah, hopefully the risk management will be different.

- Romain Grosjean, Lotus

There was just the one red flag during the day, brought out by Giedo van der Garde who stopped out on track. The Caterham car was suffering some KERS gremlins, and they finished the day last... again.

2013 Testing - Day 3, Barcelona
PosDriverTeamTimeLaps
1Fernando AlonsoFerrari1:21.87597
2Nico HülkenbergSauber1:22.16091
3Romain GrosjeanLotus1:22.188119
4Nico RosbergMercedes1:22.611107
5Pastor MaldonadoWilliams1:22.67579
6Valtteri BottasWilliams1:22.82667
7Jenson ButtonMcLaren1:22.84071
8Adrian SutilForce India1:22.87778
9Mark WebberRed Bull1:23.024108
10Jean-Éric VergneToro Rosso1:23.366106
11Max ChiltonMarussia1:25.69057
12Giedo van der GardeCaterham1:26.11793

Adrian Sutil made his big comeback, getting behind the wheel of the Force India in the hopes of having a chance of the 2013 race seat. The German said afterwards he didn't know who would get the seat but that, "I spent six years with that team and they know my performance. I think it was obvious today that I could show I am still quick and that was very important."

Williams ran two drivers today, splitting the work between Maldonado and Bottas, the pair finishing 5th and 6th respectively.

Working on set-up during our runs today as well as a few final aero checks for additional data #Barcelona

WilliamsF1Team WilliamsF1Team

283 laps in the three days of test. Keep the preparations for the season ahead trying things in the car. Now rest and analyze data.

alo_oficial alo_oficial

119 laps today with @Lotus_F1Team in #Barcelona ! Falling asleep won't take me long tonight. See you tomorrow with rain?

RGrosjean RGrosjean

Good day.. Covered more or less all the test items! Only some problem with Kers in the afternoon! Tomorrow another day only itlooks like rain

GvanderGarde GvanderGarde

The final day of testing for this middle week is tomorrow, with Alonso handing over to Massa, Rosberg back to Hamilton and Hülkenberg to Gutiérrez. As the tweets above suggest, we may be in for some rain, so expect limited running and/or wet tyres!