Kimi Raikkonen revived Ferrari's spirits with the fastest time in free practice for Sunday's European Grand Prix at the new Valencia street circuit.
The world champion had vowed to improve his practice and qualifying performances to boost his title challenge and kept his word with a best lap of one minute and 39.477 seconds to outpace Renault's local hero Fernando Alonso.
Raikkonen and team-mate Felipe Massa were the fastest for much of the afternoon but the Brazilian was outpaced in the closing stages by Alonso and then Jenson Button's Honda.
"I like driving this track," said Raikkonen, whose team are determined to end a run of three wins in a row for McLaren this weekend.
"It is different to other street circuits we have had and yesterday, when I walked it, I thought it would be fun. Today just confirmed that impression for me."
"They have done a really good job. We have got off to a good start, but it is too early to say where we are in relation to the opposition. I think overtaking will be difficult, as always."
Raikkonen is second in the drivers' championship with 57 points behind Briton Lewis Hamilton who has 62.
Hamilton was fifth fastest in his McLaren ahead of Finnish team-mate Heiki Kovalainen.
Hamilton was unflustered by the positions and remained confident as he looked ahead to Saturday's practice and qualifying.
"Considering the dustiness of the track, we made a very promising start on the set up this morning - we were able to go faster on each run without changing too much and had a good baseline for the afternoon session," he said.
"I think we are in pretty good shape and I am looking forward to tomorrow."
Kovalainen, winner of the previous race in Hungary after Massa suffered an engine failure while leading, said his car was working well while the Brazilian also sounded confident.
"It was very enjoyable and we gained confidence in the track layout," said Massa.
"The surface is still very dirty, and it is easy to make mistakes. But I like the track - and it has a nice atmosphere and I think the organisers have done a great job."
Double world champion Alonso, who led a minute of silence in respect for those who died in Wednesday's Madrid airport crash, was in impressive form in front of his home crowd.
"I really enjoyed the track and I feel that we can do well here," said the Spaniard. "We are feeling good about qualifying in the top six and then finishing in the points, again. And that is progress this year for us."
German Sebastian Vettel, 21, who was fastest for Toro Rosso in the morning, was unable to repeat the feat in the afternoon and struggled in the second session before winding up 16th.