Lewis Hamilton has described Mercedes' start in pre-season testing as "very encouraging" after instantly feeling familiar with his new car.
While Sebastian Vettel topped the lunchtime timesheets on the first day of testing in Barcelona, it was Hamilton who led the way with the most laps completed as the W07 proved impressively reliable straight out of the box.
According to the F1 world champion, the new Mercedes is very similar to the W06 which won 16 of 2015's 19 races.
"It feels very much like last year's car. There are a few bits here and there but generally it's the same - it's an evolution of last year's car and l think that is a positive. 60 laps on the first morning is very encouraging," Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ.
After winning the world championship, Hamilton was beaten in the final three races of the season and voiced concerns that a new component on the W06 had adversely affected its handling.
"There was something Lewis Hamilton didn't like on the car at the end of last year," reported Sky F1's Ted Kravitz before testing at the Circuit de Catalunya commenced. "He needs to understand this car and he will know within the first two or three laps whether it has same suspension characteristics he didn't get on with last year or if it is a completely new start. That's what makes today so interesting."
But Hamilton says it's too early to tell whether the W07 has carried over that unwelcome characteristic.
"It all feels very new and l can't remember what the feeling was back then, but it's when we start to push the car and try and get it in the zone, which we haven't done yet, then we'll find out."
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