Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes Driver on Differences in New Formula One Cars

While Vettel completed 128 laps in the Ferrari, between them Bottas and Hamilton managed 152, which is extremely impressive, especially when few other teams managed to get through the day without an issue.

“I was behind a couple of cars out there and it was harder to follow but that is to be expected”.

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo didn’t do much better, getting through just four laps before his new RB13 auto ground to a halt near Turn 4 because of what the team called “a sensor issue”.

But maintaining momentum going into the new season may prove tricky. It was another early marker of how well his team have designed their vehicle and engine for the new regulations and that it will only get better seems a given. It is a lot more physical.

“I definitely put my body to the test today”.

“I’ve trained enough over the winter to be ready for more”. It doesn’t matter how fit you are or how hard you train, that auto beats the crap out of you.

Hamilton, enjoying F1’s new owners Liberty Media’s focus on promoting better interaction with the sport’s fans on social media, was live from the cockpit on his Instagram account. They are now wider and longer and meaner looking. “We are a lot better prepared”. You don’t forget, but get used to what you have. I hope we will make similar progress tomorrow and the day after.

“We can beat them”, the Australian told Sky Sports.

“The other driver probably naturally may be able to do more or less than you are, but because of this data they can just copy you: “Oh he’s braking five metres later there, I’ll go out and I’ll try braking five metres later”.

Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas of Finland, right, and Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, chat with Sportchef Toto Wolf at the launch of the new Mercedes F1 auto at the Silverstone racetrack in Towcester, England, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017.

British driver Jolyon Palmer has admitted he is baffled by the staggering pre-season form displayed by Lewis Hamilton’s world championship-winning Mercedes team.

Fernando Alonso missed the majority of Monday’s running following an oil leak, and Stoffel Vandoorne, who has replaced Jenson Button this year, encountered further engine woes last night. I don’t think like that. And that’s fine with Hamilton, who had uneasy relationship with Rosberg.

“Right now we’re just focusing on our own job to do the very best that we can, but it’s been a good day, a really positive day for the team”. I see no reason why that wouldn’t be possible.