Sebastian Vettel edges past Lewis Hamilton to finish quickest in F1 testing opener

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fended off world champion Lewis Hamilton to emerge as the fastest driver as 2016 Formula One pre-season got underway with the first test at the Circuit de Cataluyna track in Barcelona on Monday.

The 28-year-old was nearly half a second faster than Hamilton, who finished the race in one minute and around 25 seconds.

Reflecting on his performance, Vettel said that he was satisfied with the car and felt better to finish first in about a month's time.

Hamilton insisted that it was the most impressive first day of testing and it clearly depicted how united and focused his team was.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull swept aside Williams' Valtteri Bottas to finish as the third fastest driver, Sport24 reported.

McLaren's Jenson Button, who was able to log 82 laps, managed to finish the session in the fifth position.

There will be seven more tests before racing gets underway at the Australian Grand Prix on March 20.