Ferrari F1 driver Felipe Massa of Brazil takes a curve during a training session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona.
Ferrari F1 driver Felipe Massa of Brazil takes a curve during a training session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona. Reuters

BMW Sauber's Sergio Perez was the surprise leader at the end of the third day of the final pre-season test in Barcelona.

He edged out Ferrari's Felipe Massa by 0.331 seconds, helped by the high track temperatures and sunny skies.

Red Bull's Mark Webber came third, 0.705 secs behind Massa, while McLaren, who sat out day three, will return on Friday.

Fastest times on day three of final pre-season test -

1 Sergio Perez (Mex) Sauber-Ferrari one minute 21.761 seconds

2 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:22.092

3 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:22.466

4 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Williams-Cosworth 1:22.637

5 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes 1:22.892

6 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Renault 1:23.541

7 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Lotus-Renault 1:23.990

8 Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault 1:24.233

9 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Mercedes 1:24.334

10 Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:24.779

11 Jerome d'Ambrosio (Bel) Virgin-Cosworth 1:27.336

12 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Lotus-Renault 1:34.485

(Attributed to BBC Sport)