Lewis Hamilton gives first F1 sighting of new Mercedes before unveiling

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/30/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-first-sighting-silverstone

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Mercedes have provided a first sighting of their new W06 car before its official unveiling on Sunday. The world champion Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Nico Rosberg gave the car a shakedown at Silverstone in what Mercedes described as “icy conditions at the Northamptonshire circuit”.

Nico Rosberg was first behind the wheel before Hamilton took over, although they only completed 19 laps before a blizzard forced the team to stop running. Two photographs of the car were released showing, in common with other new releases, a narrow sloping nose and a sleeker aerodynamic configuration.

The car will next appear at pre-season testing at Jerez from 1-4 February. Rosberg will take the car out on Sunday and Hamilton on Monday.

Related: Ferrari launch new FS15-T car for 2015 F1 season

Mercedes won 16 of the 19 races in 2014 with 11 one-two finishes and are hot favourites for the new season.