Without driver aides, will Hamilton fizzle?

Lewis Hamilton twice went off the track in McLaren's new car yesterday on his first stint of official testing this year at Jerez in southern Spain.

On both occasions Hamilton, 23, beached his McLaren into gravel.

Hamilton blamed a lack of engine braking, one of the driver aids – along with traction control – now banned under new regulations.

"The first time it was just wet," Hamilton said. "I touched the curb and went on to the edge of the gravel. But without these controls helping on entry to corners there's more locking of the rear wheels, and when you're pushing hard, it happens."

Hamilton still set the second fastest time of the day with one min 20.099 sec, behind rookie Timo Glock who was 0.3sec quicker in the new Toyota, with Fernando Alonso in last year's Renault, third fastest. Daily Telegraph