Williams & Ferrari end F1 winter tests on high

Valtteri-Bottas;-Williams;-Formula-One

Valtteri Bottas steered his Williams to the fastest time on the final of 12 days of preseason tests. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

MONTMELO, Spain — Williams and Ferrari are poised to make a good start to the Formula One season after both finished winter testing with another strong showing on Sunday.

Valtteri Bottas steered his Williams to the fastest time on the final of 12 days of preseason tests, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel right behind him at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.

Whether they can challenge champion Mercedes is another issue.

Nico Rosberg may have had a subdued final turn behind his Mercedes, but the German team has given no indication of slippage after dominating last season when Rosberg was Lewis Hamilton’s only challenger for the title.

McLaren’s Jenson Button, meanwhile, toiled to another session-low 30 laps.

The Australian Grand Prix is in two weeks.

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