Hamilton crashes Merc in first test

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks on after crashing into the gravel at turn six during Formula One winter testing at Circuito de Jerez on February 6, 2013 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks on after crashing into the gravel at turn six during Formula One winter testing at Circuito de Jerez on February 6, 2013 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Published Feb 6, 2013

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If you've ever had a terrible first day at a new job, you’ll surely sympathise with Lewis Hamilton, who's just crashed his new Mercedes F1 car on his first day of pre-season testing with his new team.

The Briton's car careered in a straight line across the gravel runoff at the Jerez circuit and nose first into the tyre wall at turn six.

NOT MY FAULT!

The car was slowed by the gravel but the wheel tracks indicated that Hamilton had been a mere passenger with no response from the steering as it went off the track.

The 28-year-old, who was second fastest with a best lap of one minute 19.519 seconds when he brought out the red flags, stepped out apparently unhurt.

Hamilton, who had completed 15 laps, is opening a new chapter in his Formula One career with Mercedes after six years with McLaren but the British-based team have had a difficult start to the first pre-season test of 2013.

Germany's Nico Rosberg completed only 14 laps on Tuesday, the start of the test, after problems with the car's wiring loom left him stranded on the track with flames flaring briefly around the rear of the vehicle. Reuters & IOL

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