Hamilton fastest as F1 wraps up first test of 2018

Formula One wrapped up the first pre-season test of the year in Barcelona on Thursday with four-times world champion Lewis Hamilton back on top of the timesheets for Mercedes. The Briton, who had done only 25 laps earlier in the week after snow and rain wreaked havoc with the schedule, completed 69 more with a fastest time of one minute 19.333 seconds using the medium Pirelli tyres. "I was really happy to get out today, to be honest," Hamilton told reporters at the end of the day's session at the Circuit de Catalunya. "I don't like testing but today I actually was really keen to get out, obviously because we hadn't had many laps... to get a feel for the tyres and warm-up process and kind of stretch the legs a little bit on this new car. "So far it's positive." The pace of the Mercedes came as no surprise, with the team having won the last four drivers' and constructors' titles, and they already look the team to beat even though testing times can be deceptive. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, also a four-times champion and last year's runner-up to Hamilton, has already said that Hamilton and Mercedes will be favourites when the season starts in Australia on March 25. Hamilton said he...