Mercedes pile on the laps, McLaren and Red Bull sidelined


Formula One - F1 - Test session - Barcelona-Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, Spain - 27/2/17. Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas in action. REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton set the pace for champions Mercedes on the opening day of Formula One's first pre-season test on Monday with his new car gobbling up the laps with a hunger that others could not match.

Hamilton, already favourite for a fourth title this year following the surprise retirement of reigning champion team mate Nico Rosberg, completed 73 trouble-free laps of the Circuit de Catalunya in the afternoon sunshine.

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