Lewis Hamilton completed 52 laps during the morning session of pre-season testing with low fuel, and finished second overall with a 1:19.352, three-tenths slower than Sebastian Vettel.
The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team devoted the day to tyre analysis and set-up work in preparation for the Australian Grand Prix.
“It was good to get some laps in this morning with slightly lower fuel,” he said. “We worked on balance and made quite a few changes.
“We were trying to simulate something a bit more like qualifying and the car felt good on lower fuel. It’s great to feel it come together.”
Vettel set the fastest time of testing so far, beating the best time previously set by Valtteri Bottas. But the Scuderia Ferrari was possibly holding back on the final straight.
“I think Ferrari are bluffing and that they are a lot quicker than they are showing,” he added.”They’re very close to us. It’s difficult right now to say exactly who is quicker. But they are very close, if not faster.
“Whatever the case, I can’t wait to go out and compete. Just a couple more weeks to go…”
