Raikkonen finishes second pre-season test on top as F1 drivers gear up for new season

Finnish racing driver Kimi Raikkonen completed the first Formula One pre-season test for Ferrari successfully, as he came out on top on the final day at Spain's Jerez track.

It was the third time in four days a Ferrari had been the fastest, as the teams reached one-third distance in their preparations for the 2015 season, with Sauber's Marcus Ericsson finishing second ahead of Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes team completed by far the most mileage.

McLaren had another tough day, still struggling with their new Honda engine, with Jenson Button did only 35 laps and was 6.8 seconds off the pace as he was forced to abandon the day's running post being initially hit by a problem with oil levels, the BBC reported.

McLaren posted 79 laps over four days, compared to more than 500 by Mercedes. But director of engineering Matt Morris insisted that the team had had a positive test as they bedded in their relationship with Honda.

Morris claimed that they have had a number of problems, adding that they have had some operational issues, with all of them working together as a team for the first time, things one takes for granted when one has have been with an engine supplier for many years.

Hamilton had a harmless spin at the chicane in the morning but still managed 117 laps as Mercedes completed an impressive overall distance of 1,419 miles in four days. He congratulated his team over the car radio saying that it was a great first week back.

Regarding his spin, Hamilton said that it was a bit damp, and he was the first on slicks, so he just had a spin, but he added that reliability has been pretty special this week, claiming that it's one of their highest weeks of mileage.

Lotus also had an encouraging final day as they completed their first test with a Mercedes engine, after switching from Renault last year.

The second test is at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya from 19-22 February, the report added.