New engine last week, what's been termed a "major" aero update for this, and it's fair to say Mercedes are the team in ascendancy in the battle to lead the field as we reach the middle race of the unprecented triple header.
The new-look W09 certainly looked very-well balanced around a circuit in which the corners come thick and fast, with Lewis Hamilton heading the charts ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
But the chasing pack were not too far adrift - Max Verstappen was third, 0.2s behind - and we all know by now that Ferrari really don't show their hand at this particular stage of a race weekend.
Let's see what P2 brings...
New engine last week, what's been termed a "major" aero update for this, and it's fair to say Mercedes are the team in ascendancy in the battle to lead the field as we reach the middle race of the unprecented triple header.
The new-look W09 certainly looked very-well balanced around a circuit in which the corners come thick and fast, with Lewis Hamilton heading the charts ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
But the chasing pack were not too far adrift - Max Verstappen was third, 0.2s behind - and we all know by now that Ferrari really don't show their hand at this particular stage of a race weekend.
Let's see what P2 brings...