26/02/2016
NEWS STORY
"The reliability of the car this week has been just incredible," enthused Lewis Hamilton. "It feels strong, it feels solid, it just keeps going and going... I've never seen anything like it."
Unfortunately, we have.
Just as the Mercedes W05 dominated in 2014, the first year of the hybrid formula, and the W06 in 2015, the W07 looks set to continue this true 'tradition of excellence'.
Indeed, the car is so relentless and seemingly unbreakable, Mercedes opted to change its driver programme in order that the drivers didn't break down before their car... and all this before they cast a glance at the super-soft rubber, far less the ultras.
The rulemakers having weaved their magic, the teams now have four days in which to learn their lesson from this week and then four more days of tack action before heading off to Melbourne.
If the Mercedes is as mighty as it appears, we then face the propect of Lewis Hamilton and Nico rosberg claening up yet again, their rivals taking whatever crumbs of comfort might be left over.
Ferrari has made progress, so too Red Bull and force India, whilst Williams continues to play its cards tantalisingly close to its chest.
However, new qualifying format and 'Driver of the Day' award aside, does anyone - particularly based on the evidence below - realy envisage the Mercedes steamroller being derailed any time soon?
Engine Manufacturer Test Mileage
| Engine Manufacturer | Miles | Kms |
| Mercedes | 4740.8 | 7629.4 |
| Ferrari | 4376.4 | 7042.9 |
| Renault | 2059.5 | 3314.4 |
| Honda | 743.4 | 1196.4 |
Team Test Mileage
| Team | Miles | Kms |
| Mercedes | 1952.4 | 3142.1 |
| Toro Rosso | 1293.0 | 2080.7 |
| Sauber | 1249.6 | 2010.9 |
| Williams | 1090.5 | 1754.9 |
| Red Bull | 1067.3 | 1717.7 |
| Ferrari | 1021.1 | 1643.2 |
| Renault | 992.1 | 1596.6 |
| Force India | 963.2 | 1550.1 |
| Haas | 812.8 | 1308.0 |
| McLaren | 743.4 | 1196.3 |
| Manor | 734.7 | 1182.3 |
Driver Test Mileage
| Driver | Team | Miles | Kms |
| Hamilton | Mercedes | 992.1 | 1596.6 |
| Rosberg | Mercedes | 960.3 | 1545.4 |
| Magnussen | Renault | 763.6 | 1228.9 |
| Nasr | Sauber | 682.6 | 1098.6 |
| Verstappen | Toro Rosso | 668.2 | 1075.3 |
| Sainz | Toro Rosso | 624.8 | 1005.5 |
| Bottas | Williams | 619.0 | 996.1 |
| Ricciardo | Red Bull | 575.6 | 926.3 |
| Ericsson | Sauber | 566.9 | 912.4 |
| Vettel | Ferrari | 564.0 | 907.7 |
| Kvyat | Red Bull | 491.7 | 791.3 |
| Gutierrez | Haas | 485.9 | 782.0 |
| Massa | Williams | 471.5 | 758.7 |
| Raikkonen | Ferrari | 457.0 | 735.5 |
| Button | McLaren | 390.5 | 628.4 |
| Celis | Force India | 384.7 | 619.1 |
| Haryanto | Manor | 373.1 | 600.5 |
| Wehrlein | Manor | 361.6 | 581.9 |
| Alonso | McLaren | 352.9 | 567.9 |
| Grosjean | Haas | 326.9 | 526.0 |
| Perez | Force India | 292.1 | 470.1 |
| Hulkenberg | Force India | 286.4 | 460.8 |
| Palmer | Renault | 228.5 | 367.7 |