The F1 world on Tuesday got its first good look at Pirelli’s new ’ultra soft’ tyre.
The best time posted by Sebastian Vettel was particularly noteworthy, as the Ferrari driver went almost two seconds faster than Nico Rosberg’s 2015 pole.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo also impressed with the purple-coloured tyre, telling the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat in Barcelona: "They are grippier and different in nature.
"They seem like fun," he added.
Even though F1’s softest tyres are now faster, however, Fernando Alonso says he is no longer blown away by the sensation of speed in modern formula one.
"F1 is now much slower in general than before," said the former double world champion.
"I was in the 1m 26s, which a few years ago I would be doing on the installation lap," Alonso, who drives for McLaren-Honda, is quoted by El Pais.
"But when we start racing in Australia, then the adrenaline will rise a little."