Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton walks at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 28, 2017 in Montmelo on the outskirts of Barcelona during the second day of the first week of tests for the Formula One Grand Prix season. / AFP / JOSE JORDAN (Photo credit should read JOSE JORDAN/AFP/Getty Images)

With the first four day test under their belts, Formula One teams and drivers have a roundabout idea on where they stand, what’s working well, and what’s not and how their bodies are withstanding the new physical demands needed to drive the 2017 contenders.

Reflecting on the last week, it appears as if Mercedes have picked up where they left off last season and the bookies have even backed their driver, three time world champion Lewis Hamilton to run away with the 2017 crown.

So how does Lewis feel about that?

“Ah, is that so?” he told the sports official website. “I didn’t know that. That’s nice to hear. Well, I am fitter, I am working harder than ever before and I am super focused and driven after last year - when I also worked hard through the year but didn’t get the result I wanted.”

As for taking his fourth crown, Lewis is not as confident as the bookies. With the new rule changes coming into effect, this year’s championship could throw up any number of surprises and he is hoping that the one big surprise will be that his Mercedes team become the fiurst to win back to back tiles across rule changes…

“So I want change and that is what the team and I are working so hard to achieve. I am not really sure, but I don’t think that any team has ever won championships across rules changes - and that is the big goal for us. We want to stay up front - but it will be a very interesting season for us, and for the fans.”

The second and final round of testing will get underway in Barcelona tomorrow.