Is impressive Mercedes just 'cruising' in safe mode?

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Mercedes encountered its first pre-season glitch today with an electrical issue keeping Lewis Hamilton in the garage all morning.

For all the W08's impressive speed seen so far in Barcelona, it appears that Mercedes may be running in a conservative power mode in order to focus on building reliability, according to Sky Sports.

Dyno engine tests conducted back at the team's Brixworth engine factory may have revealed component weaknesses, which is actually the purpose of dyno testing, which in turn has enticed Mercedes to dial in its power on a step-by-step basis.

It is understood however that Mercedes will introduce an upgraded power unit for the first race of the season in Melbourne.

The takeaway right now is that Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas' outright speed behind the wheel of the W08 is only a conservative reflection of the car's true potential.

If reliability is on a par, the Mercedes W08 may just move to the next performance level, in which case, we haven't seen anything yet from the Silver Arrows!

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.