Hamilton happy after first run in new McLaren

After Michael Schumacher grabbed the limelight at the first day of Formula 1 testing in Valencia on Monday, yesterday it was the turn of his heir apparent, Lewis Hamilton.

The British McLaren driver took to the track in the new McLaren car and registered the third best time of the day during his 108 lap run. Once again there was a large crowd at the circuit to see the 2010 cars put through their paces for the first time.

Afterwards Hamilton declared himself pleased with the new vehicle. "It was a night and day difference and feeling compared to the first lap and the first test day in 2009," he said. "I have a positive feeling."

Mindful of the dreadful start that McLaren had to the 2009 season, Hamilton refused to make any bold predictions and said it was too soon to say if the car was a challenger. But he commented: "I got in today and it felt good. I got out smiling and all the problems I had generally with the last car I didn't have with this one."

The fastest man on the track for the second day running was Felipe Massa in his Ferrari, and a Sauber once again registered the second quickest lap - this time with Kamui Kobayashi rather than Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel.

Two more world champions will take a spin in their new cars on the final day of the testing session at Valencia. Fernando Alonso takes over from Massa in the Ferrari and Jenson Button will test the McLaren.

There will be plenty of pressure on Button, the reigning world champion, to at least match the time of 1:12.256 set by Hamilton, otherwise the critics will begin sharpening their barbs a month before the season even begins.

But despite all the other big names and sideshows on offer at Valencia, there was still no escaping the spectre of Schumacher - even though he did not drive. Mercedes reacted angrily to reports that their big-name driver was still suffering from the neck problem that put paid to his Ferrari comeback last year. The driver's doctor, Johannes Peil, declared that his patient was completely injury-free.

The three-day session at Valencia is the first of four run-outs for the teams in February before the season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14.