Mercedes unveil F1 car for 2016 season

Reuters: Triple Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton completed a race distance before lunchtime on the first day of pre-season testing on Monday (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 NicoRosberg. “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 – exactlythe same number as the Spanish Grand Prix held at the same circuit – withoutany obvious problems.

The 31-year-old Briton was not the fastest – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel led the timesheets – butlap times matter less than reliability as teams look initially for consistency over outright pace.

Mercedes Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L), Nico Rosberg of Germany (R) and the team’s Executive Director Toto Wolff pose behind the new Mercedes F1 W07 hybrid car before the first testing session ahead of the upcoming season at the Circuit Catalunya-Barcelona in Montmelo, Spain, February 22, 2016. REUTERS