Hamilton crashes his new Mercedes

Hamilton in the Mercedes before he crashed

Lewis Hamilton's full testing debut for Mercedes has suffered a significant setback on Wednesday morning at Jerez after the Briton crashed into a tire barrier.

Having just come off the second-fastest lap of the day to that point in Spain, Hamilton's W04 went straight on at the Dry Sack hairpin and plowed straight through the gravel and into a nose-first impact with the tire wall.

Hamilton clambered out of the stricken car without assistance but the impact broke the front wing on the new W04, which was promptly put on a rescue truck and taken back to the pitlane.

Although it is not yet know whether the crash came about because of driver error or a mechanical problem.

Hamilton is reported to have described himself as a "passenger" during the crash on his return to the pits, while Mercedes say they are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

But whatever the outcome to Mercedes' investigations, the incident undoubtedly proves the second high-profile setback for the team in as many days, after they were forced to abandon Day One's running after 14 laps in wake of an electrical fire that stopped the car out on circuit.

Nico Rosberg was unable to return to the circuit for the remainder of the day as Mercedes worked to modify a wiring loom on the W04.