The first day of testing in preparation for the 2017 Formula 1 season has commenced. Closing on top of the pre-season opener is Lewis Hamilton who is driving for Mercedes, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel close in second.
During the morning run, Vettel, in his Ferrari, managed to complete 62 laps and recorded the fastest time of 1:22.791seconds. Valtteri Bottas, in the Mercedes, closely inched in second place with 1:23.169seconds recorded in 79 laps. Sergio Peres, driving for Force India, sneaked in at third place with 1:23.709seconds.
However, the timesheet significantly changed as more riders tested their cars that same afternoon. According to Sky Sports, Mercedes' Hamilton topped Day One with the fastest lap of 1:21.765seconds using soft tires. Ferrari's Vettel, using medium tires, settled in second with 1:21.878seconds. In third is Felipe Massa who is returning from retirement for Williams, closing in at 1:22.076 seconds. Completing the Top 5 are Haas' Kevin Magnussen in fourth and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in fifth.
FIRST LOOK: Lewis Hamilton takes the brand new Mercedes-AMG #F1 W08 #EQPower+ for its first laps around Silverstone! pic.twitter.com/W8LIKMjW5O
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) February 23, 2017
One of the most talked about cars in the upcoming F1 season is the one from Toro Rosso. The car looks hauntingly similar to the one launched by Mercedes. In terms of performance, Toro Rosso's car, driven by Carlos Sainz, settled in the eighth position with its fastest lap at 1:24.494seconds.
Based on the final timesheet of Day One, it would appear that the current champions Mercedes have the best performance. The team was able to post the most number of laps, and also the fastest.
On the other hand, disappointments have plagued McLaren in Day One. According to Formula1, the McLaren team only managed to complete 29 laps and settled on the 10th place. The team suffered early issues with Fernando Alonso's car and did not pose a significant threat to the board until later that day.
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