Hamilton insists Vettel tyre tests don't give Ferrari an advantage

Lewis Hamilton has refuted the suggestion his absence from last year's Pirelli tyre development tests have had an impact on his and Mercedes' form relative to Ferrari in the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship.

The three-time world champion did not get his first taste of the wider specification tyres until a post-event test following the 2016 season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November and even then only completed a morning of mileage. His next outing wouldn't come until the launch of this year's W08 chassis.

By contrast, Sebastian Vettel participated in most of Ferrari's 2016 tyre tests using a modified 'mule' car created to simulate greater levels of downforce under this year's revised regulations. He was also nominated to test Pirelli tyres during the recent post Bahrain Grand Prix test.

With Vettel stealing a march in the overall standings after securing two wins and two second place finishes from the opening four races, Hamilton dismissed the notion Ferrari has generated an advantage as a result.

"I don't have any regrets, no. we have a good handle on the tyres, I think it's all about heating from the brakes, temperatures, blanket temperatures, out laps, all those different things, to come to downforce levels, that sort of thing," he said.

"I don't think Ferrari has an advantage, I think they hit the ground running in Russia as we did, for example, in China. Their car has worked, and we've been trying very hard at getting our car back to where we need it to be. I don't think anything to do with the test has given them any advantage or taken anything away from us."

With Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes nominated to help Pirelli acquire data for its 2017 specification tyres last season, Pascal Wehrlein completed the lion's share of the three-time title winning team's mileage, alongside retired champion Nico Rosberg.