Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber quickest in pre-season F1 testing

The final pre-season session before the start of the season is taking place

Mark Webber in action for Red Bull in Barcelona (GETTY IMAGES)

Red Bull driver Mark Webber set the pace today in cold and wet conditions on the first day of the final Formula One pre-season testing session, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

After Ferrari's Felipe Massa stopped on the track with less than half an hour to go, Webber out-dueled Hamilton with both clocking flying laps just before the session ended.

Jean-Enric Vergne of Toro Rosso recorded the third fastest lap, in front of rookies Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Esteban Gutierrez of Sauber.

Testing continues through to Sunday before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 17.

Reuters