Lewis Hamilton: This is what driving the new Mercedes F1 car felt like
LEWIS HAMILTON admitted that the conditions provided by Storm Doris at Silverstone made life very difficult as he drove the new Mercedes F1 car for the very first time.
Lewis Hamilton got his first chance to drive the new Mercedes car at Silverstone
Mercedes today unveiled their W08 challenger for 2017 at the home of the British Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton had spent the morning running it round the track at Silverstone.
Valtteri Bottas followed in the afternoon but his new team-mate Hamilton admitted that the weather meant it wasn’t easy for him to judge where the team are.
“It was damp when I was out so I was on the wet tyres initially,” Hamilton said.
“Time will tell if I’m physically ready.
“I’ve done it a little bit different this year in the hope that it’s more enjoyable.
“This year I started a little bit later - usually I start in December, and this year it was January.
Lewis Hamilton did get some minimal running on slick tyres at Silverstone
“It doesn’t matter how fit you are or how hard you train, that car beats the c**p out of you.
“There’s no simulation for it whether it’s your neck or a muscle you didn’t even know you had deep down under your ribcage.
“After the first test, you know where you’re weak and you work on those.
“Hopefully, I’m going to get in the car and not have any problems.”