Jenson Button and McLaren managed to balance aero and mechanical set-ups to top the time sheets with a best lap time of 1:18.871.

The current F1 champion completed a number of shorter runs on three separate tyre compounds, evaluating set-ups before switching to longer runs on the final day's proceedings. Following his third test on the MP4-25, Button reported that he felt comfortable and confident to begin the last test program at Barcelona this week.

For the final test session before the start of the 2010 Formula One World Championship in Bahrain on 14 March, both Button and colleague Lewis Hamilton will spend alternate days in the car evaluating the new bodywork and aerodynamic components ahead of the season-opener.

Renault F1 team's Robert Kubica secured second quickest on the time sheets following evaluation of fuel loads, long runs and set-up work. The Polish driver completed 117 laps. Also completing 117 laps was BMW Sauber F1 Team's Kamui Kobayashi who clocked 1:19.188 for the third fastest time on the final day's time tally.

Vitantonio Liuzzi brought the VJM03's second test to a close and covered 80 laps with a program that included work on set-up and understanding the car's behaviour with the heavier fuel loads necessitated by the race refuelling ban this year. His fastest lap of 1:19.650 was the fourth quickest of the day. The team's testing program will now move to Barcelona this week where Liuzzi will drive for the first two days, with Adrian Sutil taking over for the final two days.

Nico Rosberg was at the wheel of the MGP W01 for Mercedes GP's final day of testing in Jerez. His program for the day concentrated on chassis set-up work over longer runs alongside a tyre comparison program. Rosberg went round the circuit for 130 laps with a quickest lap time of 1:20.061 for fifth overall.

Ferrari's newbie Fernando Alonso worked mainly on trying out different set-up options on the car, and at the end of the final day's program, he completed a race simulation. In total, Alonso did 137 laps and got the quickest time of 1.20.436. At this week's final test session at the Circuit de Catalunya prior to the start of the 2010 season, Ferrari's timetable sees Alonso driving on the first two days, with Felipe Massa doing the final two.

Jaime Alguersuari did some aero evaluation runs and Toro Rosso tackled a race simulation on the final day's testing in Jerez. The STR5 completed the equivalent of over two race distances. "These past two days in the car have been successful and it was good that the weather improved, so I could manage to drive in the dry," commented Alguersuari. "The most important aspect is that the car ran reliably, which was our main target here in Jerez. It puts us in good shape to tackle the final test in Barcelona."

Meanwhile, sister team's Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber tested the RB6 with a series of long runs to evaluate three different tyre compounds. After three successful runs, Webber's fourth was stopped when the car had an engine failure. The team lost around two and a half hours of running time while a replacement was fitted, but the Australian was back out on track later. After an installation lap, he completed one long run, as the team continued its tyre testing.

Virgin Racing concluded its second full pre-season test as well with Timo Glock inside the cockpit of the VR-01, completing 28 laps and his best time was a 1:22.433. The team's intention was to achieve much-needed dry track time. In the absence of the new parts set to be introduced for this week's test in Barcelona, the team continued to endure a frustrating time addressing the current hydraulic issue.

Ex-Toyota F1 driver Jarno Trulli made his Lotus F1 Racing debut behind the wheel of the T127, the Italian ran for 141 laps to put in extra mileage on the car and solve some setup work.

Trulli said, "It was a very positive day. I'm really happy about my first day testing with Lotus Racing and I was very lucky to have everything right on the car with no major issues. We were able to put a lot of mileage on the car and get a lot of information out of it. I had the chance to start developing a real feel for the car and it's good to be here."

The teams' testing program will now adjourn to Barcelona at the Circuit de Catalunya from 25 - 28 February for the final test session before the Bahrain Grand Prix marks the start to the 2010 Formula 1 Championship on 14 March.

* Article taken from www.motorsportchannel.com