Lewis Hamilton’s pre-season preparations have suffered a setback after illness meant the F1 world champion had to sit out the bulk of the first day of the Barcelona test.
The Mercedes driver had completed 11 laps in the early stages at the Circuit de Catalunya before being forced to stop after just two hours of running.
According to his Mercedes team, Hamilton, who returned to Europe at the start of the week after a brief break in America, woke with a 'fever'. His condition then deteriorated and he was unable to continue.
Despite Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg being present at the test on Thursday and in his race suit for a photo shoot, Mercedes summoned their reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein to replace Hamilton in the W06. The 20-year-old German had been running in Force India’s 2014 car and was already as high as second in the timesheets in the VJM07 before Hamilton's withdrawal.
"Maybe they want to keep it even and maybe Mercedes don’t want to give Rosberg more seat time than Lewis even though Hamilton has a fever and can’t drive today,” mused Sky F1's Ted Kravitz.
It was later reported by the German media that Rosberg was suffering from a trapped nerve in his neck.
Rosberg is scheduled to return to action for Mercedes on Friday with Hamilton, fitness and health permitting, due to run again on Saturday.