For a fleeting moment on Tuesday, the F1 world considered a surprise new contender for the 2011 championship.
In the closing moments of Tuesday’s test day in Barcelona, the name Sergio Perez leapt to the top of the timesheets, 1.4 seconds faster than Mark Webber in the mighty Red Bull.
"To do that time would have been impossible," admitted Sauber’s technical director James Key, according to Auto Motor und Sport.
"Sergio had a slow car in front of him and took a short-cut."
The Mexican rookie’s best legitimate time was still good enough for fourth place, with Key insisting he could have gone another few tenths quicker.
Sauber’s C30 was featuring a new front wing and striking heat towers on the sidepods.
Perez, 21, said he is looking forward to Melbourne and targeting a top ten finish, as well as his highly rated teammate Kamui Kobayashi.
"It is my goal to beat him as soon as possible," he said. "He is a fast guy with a year more experience, knowing what you need to drive a racing car fast."