Vettel, the reigning world champion, set the pace with a lap of 1 minute, 24.374 seconds late in the session Friday after the Catalunya Circuit dried out.

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari trailed by over one second ahead of fellow Spanish driver Jaime Alguersuari of Toro Rosso and Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber. McLaren driver Jenson Button was just under two seconds behind for fifth.

Michael Schumacher of Mercedes was eighth as teams were able to assess the new Pirelli tires in wet conditions early on.

Testing continues through Monday.

In London, formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is hoping that deadly anti-government unrest in Bahrain “all blows away” so the season-opening Grand Prix can go ahead as scheduled.

Ecclestone said Friday a decision on the March 13 race will be made next week. The Bahrain GP risks becoming the first event canceled in F1 history.

“Our people there say, 'It's quiet, no problems,”' Ecclestone told the BBC. “I'm more hopeful today. I hope we don't have to do anything, that things carry on as normal. Let's hope this all blows away.” “Let's wait and see because we don't know what the protests are really about. We've never - ever, ever - been involved in religion and politics and we don't make decisions based on those things,” Ecclestone said.

“Because people (were) killed, nobody's happy with that I'm sure. In these parts there have always been skirmishes so let's hope it's no more than that.” Bahrain became the first Middle Eastern country to host an F1 race in 2004. Since then, Abu Dhabi has also been added to the championship calendar.

So far, governing body FIA has expressed confidence that the anti-government protests would not stop the F1 race from going ahead.

Barcelona's Catalunya Circuit has offered to step in as a substitute venue for the final test session ahead of the Bahrain GP.

Circuit director Salvador Servia said Friday the track would be available to hold the March 3-6 testing after the Formula One Teams Association asked about a potential switch.

A lower-tier GP2 Asia Series race at the Bahrain circuit was canceled Thursday amid the protests.

FOTA general secretary Simone Perillo told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that teams were meeting at the Barcelona circuit on Friday “to consider the situation.” “Consultations are taking place on the whole logistic possibilities and what is happening in Bahrain,” Perillo said. “If things don't calm down then we'll have to consider the possibilities.” Perillo said the teams were also discussing options over the first race of the season but said it was “too early” to talk about canceling, switching or postponing the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Catalunya Circuit is scheduled to host the Spanish GP on May 22.

In Rome, Formula One ace Robert Kubica has begun physiotherapy after undergoing a third operation on injuries sustained during a horror crash over a week ago, the hospital where he is being treated said on Friday.

The Pole spent eight hours in surgery at the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, Liguria, on Wednesday to repair damage to the outer part of his elbow.

Kubica had earlier in the week undergone surgery on his foot, shoulder and inner elbow while last week he was operated on for seven hours to repair his hand.

"Robert Kubica's state of health is currently satisfactory," the hospital said in a statement, adding that he had now been transferred to their rehabilitation center.

"It probably won't be necessary to undergo more surgery," the statement added.

The Lotus Renault GP driver crashed while competing at the Ronde di Andora Rally in Liguria on Feb. 12. He lost control on a bend at high speed and crashed into a guardrail, which buckled the driver's door, before ending up in a church wall.