MONTMELO, SPAIN - MARCH 07: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 on track during day one of Formula One winter testing at Circuit de Catalunya on March 7, 2017 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is anticipating a close 2017 Formula One championship season after watching his rivals at work on the Circuit de Catalonia on Tuesday.

Speaking after he completed the morning session on the Spanish track, the three time world champion stated how last week he thought one team would be their nearest rivals and now another is looking strong, all part of the recipe for a well overdue competitive change to the pinnacle of Motorsports…

“When we left here last week it looked like Ferrari was our closest rivals, today Red Bull look quick,” he said. “It's going to be interesting over the next few days and when we arrive in Australia. The field will be close, that's for sure.”