(Updated) F1: Hamilton leads busy day as F1 tests resume after snowfall

Thursday, 1 March 2018, 14:58 Last update: about 9 years ago

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes led the fourth day of Formula One tests on Thursday, when teams made up for lost time caused by bad weather.

It was a busy day at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona after snowfall and cold temperatures kept most cars in the garage on Wednesday.

Temperatures improved on Thursday for the final session of the week, and teams immediately sent their cars to the track, with Hamilton posting a lap of 1 minute, 19.333 seconds, the best of the week.

McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne of Belgium steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The British driver was a half-second faster than Stoffel Vandoorne of McLaren, who had his time on the faster hypersoft tires. Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, last year's runner-up in the drivers' championship, was third-fastest, nearly a second behind Hamilton.

Pierre Gasly's Honda-powered Toro Rosso led the lap charts with 147. Vettel was next with 120 laps, followed by Vandoorne's 110. Hamilton ended the day with 69.

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen of Denmark steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, the only driver to post a time on Wednesday, was fifth-fastest after running 51 laps with McLaren.

Kevin Magnussen was fourth-fastest with Hass.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The session was stopped briefly in the morning after Marcus Ericsson went off the track in his Sauber. There was another red flag in the afternoon when Max Verstappen went off in a Red Bull.

Drivers still needed wet tires early in the session but conditions improved significantly in the afternoon and drivers were able to finish on dry tires.

Unusually cold weather significantly reduced practice time for the teams this week as the track remained without enough grip for proper runs.

There will be another four-day test session in Barcelona from next Tuesday.

The season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne is March 25.

Temperatures improved for Thursday's final session of the week and teams immediately sent their cars to the track near Barcelona.

Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson of Sweden steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes was in front early in the afternoon with a time of 1 minute, 24.319 seconds.

The session was stopped briefly in the morning after Marcus Ericsson went off the track with his Sauber.

Drivers still needed wet tires as the track wasn't yet fully dry.

Unusually cold weather significantly reduced practice time for the teams this week as the track remained without enough grip for proper runs.

There will be another four-day test session in Barcelona beginning next Tuesday. The season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne is March 25.