Lewis Hamilton quickest on final day, fire ends Fernando Alonso's test

BARCELONA, Spain - Lewis Hamilton ensured Mercedes finished quickest at the first F1 preseason test, where Fernando Alonso and Alpine's day went up in smoke in the morning.

Hamilton, who is looking to win a record eighth F1 championship this season, set two quick laps in the final 20 minutes.

On the C4 tyre he set a 1:19.141 before switching to the C5, the softest and quickest tyre in Pirelli's test range, and went 0.003s faster to finish the test with a best time of 1:19.138.

McLaren and Ferrari had grabbed the headlines on the opening two days but Mercedes ensured it left Barcelona with both its drivers top of the order. George Russell's 1:19.233, set in the morning, was good enough for…