Barcelona - Season leader Jenson Button made a first statement when he dominated Friday's first free practice session for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix.

Button clocked 1 minute 21.799 seconds in his Brawn GP for the 4.566-kilometres lap on the circuit de Catalunya.

Jarno Trulli was second in 1:22.154 in a Toyota, with the BMW duo of Robert Kubica (1:22.221) and Nick Heidfeld (1:22.658) following.

World champion Lewis Hamilton was 14th in a McLaren-Mercedes and Felipe Massa led Ferrari in ninth place.

A second training session was scheduled for later Friday, qualifying is Saturday and the first European race of the season on Sunday.

Button, a three time winner from Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain, leads with 31 points from his team-mate Rubens Barrichello (19) and Red Bull's German driver Sebastian Vettel (18), who won the other race in China.

The big three of McLaren, Ferrari and BMW have had a poor start into the campaign dominated by Brawn, Toyota and Red Bull, but hope to rebound with improved cars now that the season has come to Europe for the next nine races.

"The beginning of the European Formula One season in Barcelona will be a true test for the future balance of power," said Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug in the buildup. (dpa)