Sandbagging Mercedes may be up 100 HP

Hamilton smiling knowing that with Mercedes power he will be World Champion again in 2015.

Trap speeds obtained by Autosport.com at last week's Jerez F1 test reveal that Mercedes powered cars are fastest on the straights despite sandbagging with full tanks of fuel and doing long endurance runs. Raikkonen, who was fastest for Ferrari on light fuel loads, was 7 km/h down on speed. Wait until the Mercedes cars run qualifying laps as they will bury Ferrari and all the Renault powered cars. Last year the Mercedes were up at least 50 HP on everyone else and this year it appears they may have widened the gap to 100 HP.

Trap Speeds Jerez F1 test, February 1-4

1 Felipe Massa (Williams-Mercedes) 307.6 km/h
2 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 307.6 km/h
3 Pastor Maldonado (Lotus-Mercedes) 306.8 km/h
4 Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso-Renault) 303.3 km/h
5 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber-Ferrari) 303.3 km/h
6 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 300.8 km/h
7 Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull-Renault) 294.2 km/h
8 Jenson Button (McLaren-Honda) 277.6 km/h