F1: Rosberg, Hamilton return to action after being sidelined on Thursday
Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were both back in the Mercedes W06 today after physical problems forced them to sit on the sidelines on Thursday.
As a precaution Rosberg ran only half a day, but he suffered no further problems with his back. Hamilton, who had to step out yesterday morning due to a fever, felt fit enough to drive in the afternoon.
"My back has been a bit of an issue, but I know what it was," said Rosberg. "My position in the car was not quite right but I've been lucky with it really and it should be fine for a full day on Sunday. I'm just being a bit cautious and decided to get out of the car at lunch today. It's a different circuit with this new car, so it felt a bit different, but in general it was OK.
"I wasn't so happy with the car this morning but then we found our way quickly with the setup and in the end it felt pretty good. At the moment we're just focusing on getting the miles done and working on setup.
"Of course, I want to go out and do qualifying laps all the time, but there's a right time for everything. We don't know where we are yet but things are going to plan. The development curve is still very steep. There's so much still to discover with these regulations in both the car and the power unit, so it's a big challenge. Overall, though, it's been a good start."
Hamilton took over after lunch, having sat out most of Thursday due to feeling unwell.
"I've felt better but I miss driving so I wanted to get in the car," said Hamilton. "It's been good today to get out there and get some laps in. I'm not sure where we stand compared to the others. The first test was just about completing loads of laps and today was the same, so I've not really started dialling the car into how I'd like to perfect it. Quick laps are for Saturday in qualifying. But it feels good, similar to last year but better.
"We're just focused on our own job, getting lots and lots of miles on the car, proving everything out and making the most of the time we have before the season starts. We've not been without a few problems here and there but I've seen the team working away to iron out any creases and it's just amazing to watch."
