Three things we learned from F1 pre-season testing

1 Mercedes have again raised the bar

Mercedes have won every drivers and constructors title since the era of hybrid engines began in 2014 and the Silver Arrows look set to take all the beating again.

During a period of relative stability in the rules, teams' performance tends to close up as the fastest cars approach the peak of their potential.

However, Mercedes have continually raised the bar and appear to have done so again.

It remains to be seen how much of an advantage, if any, they are gaining with their innovative Dual Axis Steering system - which is already banned for 2021.

But their 2020 challenger set the fastest time of pre-season as well as completing the most laps. In pre-season, mileage, and therefore data gathered by the team, are at least as important as outright lap times.

2 Ferrari begin on the back foot

For the first time in five years a Ferrari did not end pre-season on top of the timesheets.

It's true that winter pace amounted to little when the season began in Australia in each of those previous years. However, there has been a distinct downcast air about the Scuderia this pre-season, in direct contrast to last year when they couldn't hide their optimism, misplaced as it turned out.

Ferrari completed the most laps during the second three-day week of testing at Barcelona and set the pace through the twistier sections of the track, so it's not all doom and gloom for F1's most historic team.

However it would be a huge surprise if they set the pace in Melbourne.

3 Little to choose in midfield battle

Beyond the big three of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull it looks like it could be all to play for.

The field as a whole showed unprecedented reliability in pre-season testing. Renault, Racing Point and McLaren seem most likely to fight it out to be best of the rest, while even last year's whipping boys Williams have made huge gains.

They will be battling Alfa Romeo, Alpha Tauri (the renamed Toro Rosso team) and Haas for the lower points-paying positions.

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