Mercedes didn't chase headline times at the Barcelona test but, late on Sunday, the team gave a hint of the true potential of the W06.
While other quick times were set on supersoft tires, Nico Rosberg jumped up to second with a time set on mediums, the team having focused on longer runs and setup work over the course of the test. Once again, the car proved to be reliable as it logged 44 laps over the course of the four days, although Rosberg didn't have it easy.
“In the morning the tires weren't really working properly and then it was so windy out on track until late in the day,” he said of Sunday's running. “It was difficult to understand in the car because every run was different from corner to corner. Depending on where the wind was coming from, the car felt totally different. So it really made testing extremely tough today. Even the sun was making it tricky at the end once the wind dropped down, as it was just on the horizon. Some of the corners were absolutely blind so you just had to commit to it by memory.”
Rosberg said it had been a positive test: “Together with the team I was still able to learn a few things and it was a good end to the test with no major problems on the car and a lot of useful running at the end when the wind was calmer. Looking at the times it's of course still not clear where we stand and we're keeping a close eye on the competition. But we're confident that we have a good car at least.”
