Mercedes in command at Catalunya test

World champions Mercedes sent another signal of their continued dominance to the rest of the Formula One paddock as Nico Rosberg was fastest on the first morning of the second pre-season test in Barcelona on Tuesday.

Throughout last week’s opening four-day test Mercedes stuck with the medium tyres.

The German set the second fastest time of the winter testing so far on Tuesday, posting one minute, 23.022 seconds after the team chose to try out the soft tyre compound for the first time; they also managed another massive amount of volume in the session, with Rosberg out on the Jerez circuit for 82 laps in the morning.

“It was a good day today”, said Bottas.

But Rosberg still managed 82 laps before lunch, while Hamilton – arriving at the track accompanied by his two dogs – did 90 after the resumption under blue skies and in mild conditions at the Catalunya track just outside of Barcelona. Having won back-to-back drivers’ and constructors’ titles, Mercedes is under no pressure to prove its speed.

There was encouragement for McLaren and Fernando Alonso meanwhile, as the Spaniard – restricted to just three laps on the final day of last week’s test – racked up 50 laps and set the third fastest time.

The new Haas team had their most troubled day to date, suffering a fuel system issue as Mexican Esteban Gutierrez completed just 23 laps before calling time on their day, the Banbury based team finishing 11th fastest of the 12 runners with a best lap of 1:26.661. “We are doing our best”. We did some short runs today which I really enjoyed.

Valtteri Bottas was fourth quickest for Williams, ahead of Max Verstappen in the now 2016-liveried Toro Rosso and the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg. “You can have these days when the whole program is interrupted”.

After a wretched 2015, McLaren and engine partners Honda appeared to finally be on top of reliability too in the early stages of running, but problems with the MP4-31 over the final two days mean the partnership are again under pressure for the second test.

Last week, Verstappen and Sainz notched 447 laps – second only to Mercedes – and Verstappen showed his endurance in recording 144 laps for the day’s highest total.