F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Mercedes surprised by 'straightforward' first day of testing

Like its main rivals, Mercedes enjoyed a trouble-free opening day of testing in Barcelona on Wednesday, a smooth session that surprised the reigning world champions.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton racked up a total of 127 laps at the Circuit de Catalunya, with the two drivers clocking in respectively P4 and P5 at the end of Wednesday's running.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin had little to say about the W13's performance after a session entirely devoted to data acquisition and set-up work.

But the Briton did admit to being impressed with the remarkable reliability displayed by teams up and down the pitlane that contributed to the day's smooth running.

"We got through a lot of work today and both drivers have been able to give us their initial impressions of the W13," said Shovlin.

"Overall, the day has been surprisingly straightforward, although looking up and down the pit lane, you can see how high the reliability standards are and most teams seemed to be running their programmes without issue.

"There really is a lot to try and cram into the six days of winter testing when you consider how different the car and the regulations are.

"Nevertheless, we have made good progress on understanding the aerodynamics and the tyres, while at the same time getting nearly 600km under our belts."

Addressing the relative performance and pace of Mercedes' new-spec car, Shovlin said that it was "too early to say where anyone stands", but the Briton was nevertheless left with a positive feeling at the end of the day.

"We've also got a few wrinkles to iron out in terms of balance and performance before really trying to put times on the board," he said.

"However, our overall feeling from today is a good one and we're looking forward to making more progress tomorrow."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Sad Colapinto laments two crashes in one day in Sao Paulo

Williams suffered a bruising time on Sunday in Sao Paulo, with Alex Albon unable to…

1 hour ago

McLaren: No regrets over timing of Norris pit stop in Sao Paulo GP

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about their…

3 hours ago

Williams' Boutsen hoists the mainsail in Adelaide

On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…

4 hours ago

Horner: Max 'answered critics' with epic Sao Paulo GP drive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…

5 hours ago

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

6 hours ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

7 hours ago