Criticism of Mercedes after bad day: 'Could well be an omen'

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer is not satisfied with the first test day of Mercedes. Where rival Red Bull Racing drove the most laps, Mercedes drove the least of all.

"What strikes me most are the differences between the two big teams competing for the title: Mercedes and Red Bull Racing. Where Mercedes are obviously still struggling, Red Bull with Max Verstappen has had a good start", Palmer starts at Sky Sports.

"More than 130 laps and the fastest time. Half a spin doesn't change that. The team is looking strong, very strong. Although it's only the first day, this could well be an omen", Palmer continued. Mercedes are the only team not to have done a shakedown before testing and that now seems to be working against them. Valtteri Bottas was only able to complete six laps in the morning session due to gearbox issues.

In the afternoon session, Lewis Hamilton came onto the track, but he didn't seem to have found his rhythm yet. The reigning world champion slipped left and right down the track during the tricky conditions in Bahrain. "Of course they will come back stronger, but this was not great," Palmer concluded.