MONTMELO, Spain -- After 64 hours of track time spread over eight days at the Circuit de Catalunya, Ferrari and Mercedes were split by just 0.003s on the final day of pre-season testing. That is a remarkably small margin when you consider there has been a significant regulation change and a full winter of development since the two rivals last met on track, but look beyond the headline-grabbing times and the evidence suggests it is last year's runner up Ferrari that has moved ahead.
Speaking on Friday lunchtime before heading out to set his fastest time, reigning champion Lewis Hamilton estimated the gap to Ferrari was something closer to 0.