Friday: Mercedes is not seeking performance
For this first day of testing in Sepang, the Mercedes team did not aim for performance but rather to understand the tires well in preparation for the race. Good management of the Pirelli tires is particularly important for achieving a good result on Sunday. Rosberg and Hamilton were satisfied with the day and are eagerly anticipating what's next.
Nico Rosberg – 5th and 7th:
We worked a lot on our rhythm during long stints rather than being fast on a single lap. As we saw in Melbourne, tire management will be the key to success, so that’s what we focused on during the tests. The conditions were difficult, and the heat was incredible. Overall, we learned a lot today, but we still have work to do tonight and tomorrow.
Lewis Hamilton – 9th and 9th:
« We made some progress with the settings today. I had a long stint on the dry which gave us a lot of information that we will look into tonight. We didn’t learn much in the wet in the afternoon as the conditions were mixed when I went out. We mainly focused on our long stints so I didn’t do a fast lap, that will be for tomorrow. I’m happy with the direction we are taking. We’ll see what the weekend brings us. »
