Mercedes AMG Petronas fired a warning shot at their rivals earlier today in Barcelona, setting a fastest lap time of 1:22.792s while using Pirelli’s soft compound for the first time this year.

This is basically what everybody (including us) was afraid of, more specifically, that Mercedes weren’t showing their true pace in previous pre-season tests, given the fact that they weren’t using soft tires. Today it was Nico Rosberg who set the fastest time, a full 1.2 seconds ahead of the second fastest driver of the day, Williams‘ Valtteri Bottas, who clocked in at 1:23.995s.

Rosberg’s time was more than 2.5 seconds faster than Lewis Hamilton’s 2014 pole position time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Truly remarkable pace shown today by Mercedes.

“I’m pleased with my two laps at the end – I nailed them pretty well and they were both identical, so a good ending to the day,” said Rosberg.

Sauber’s Felipe Nasr was third fastest with a time of 1.24:071 whereas Sebastian Vettel secured the 4th fastest time with 1:25.339s.

It was a much better day for McLaren-Honda, as Jenson Button locked up the 5th fastest time with 1.25.590s, almost 1.2 seconds ahead Lotus’ Pastor Maldonado. Button also stringed together a full 101 laps.

Today also marked the official 2015 debut for Force India, who managed to do 77 total laps (the fewest of all the teams), but considering the fact that it’s the first time they’ve taken the VJM08 on the track, the team was quite happy with the result.

“We were able to run reliably straight out of the box and that is very encouraging. The boys and girls at the factory and here at the track have been pushing really hard in the last couple of weeks and to do 77 laps in little more than one afternoon is a remarkable job by the team.” said Hulkenberg.

If today was any indication, thinking that Mercedes were going to be properly challenged by Ferrari and Red Bull this upcoming season, may have been a bit of a stretch.

Unofficial Day 2 (Round 2) times from Barcelona

1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:22.792s, 106 laps
2. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:23.995s, 90 laps
3. Felipe Nasr, Sauber, 1:24.071s, 141 laps
4. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:25.339s, 143 laps
5. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:25.590s, 101 laps
6. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, 1:26.705s, 140 laps
7. Max Verstappen, Toro Rosso, 1:26.766s, 139 laps
8. Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull, 1:26.965s, 84 laps
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:28.412s, 77 laps

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