TVC E. Triple Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton completed a race distance before lunchtime on the first day of pre-season testing on Monday (February 22) and, ominously for rivals, said his new Mercedes felt like a winner.
“Well, it looks very much like last year’s,” the Briton said after unveiling the car at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya before testing began.
Mercedes won 16 of 19 races last year, taking both titles, and have triumphed in 32 of the last 38 grands prix.
“It is exciting to see the whole thing come together, it is a brand new car,” Hamilton added. “Everything is new, very very few things have been carried over from last year’s car so I am excited. I just want to get out,” he said, looking at the circuit.
“Expectations of course are high,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “We have been the benchmark the last few years and we want to continue where we stopped in Abu Dhabi in 2015 but you have to stay realistic.”
“Tthe car looks great, it looks fast, for sure,” said Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. “So I am happy and looking forward to driving it and I am sure it will be a successful year again.”
Hamilton managed 66 laps — exactly the same number as the Spanish Grand Prix held at the same circuit — without any obvious problems.
The 31-year-old Briton was not the fastest — Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel led the timesheets — but lap times matter less than reliability as teams look initially for consistency over outright pace.
