Bottas admits Mercedes don't know their own pace

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas has told the media that he is unsure how quick his car will be over one flying lap.

Mercedes focussed on long run race simulations and only used the medium and soft compound tyres in the dry conditions.

Sebastian Vettel set a blistering time to break the unofficial lap record at the Circuit de Catalunya on the hypersoft tyres, but Mercedes decided against challenging his time of 1:17:182.

Bottas claimed four pole positions last year, compared to team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s 11, and the Finn said: “For us, I have to say that the one-lap pure pace is a little bit unknown.

“We’ve seen some quick times from others but I guess we will find out in a couple of weeks.”

Despite the lack of a pure one-lap pace run, Bottas was happy with his longer runs in testing, and said: “I think the long runs, the race simulation we did was really positive.

“It was nice to get a race simulation under my belt as well.”