Lewis Hamilton feels comfortable at Mercedes. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

New Mercedes 'Definitely' A Winner - Hamilton: Having consistently played down his expectations for 2013, Lewis Hamilton is now enthused. Until this weekend, most pundits had been forecasting a Red Bull versus Lotus battle for the forthcoming season opener, with next-best McLaren and Ferrari perhaps slightly off the ultimate pace. But on Saturday, Lewis Hamilton exploded to the top of the times with the winter's best laptime. Nico Rosberg then went even quicker in the first half of Sunday, the last day of running before the circus heads off to Australia. "Everywhere in the paddock, respect is being shown for Mercedes," said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner. There are, however, outstanding questions. Didn't Mercedes also show good pace before last season, when ultimately the 2012 car fell badly off the development pace? And isn't there a huge difference between one-lap qualifying pace and the new tire-degradation dominated Grands Prix? Finally, is the W04 really a title contender? "It's not 'no chance' and not 'definitely we will'," Hamilton said. "We will definitely be able to win a race at some point." Added Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg: "At the very least, Mercedes' betting odds have changed now!"

Honda Engineers Already At McLaren - Report: McLaren is yet to sign an engine deal for the new turbo V6 era beginning in 2014, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "Mercedes is pushing for a decision in the next days," said correspondent Michael Schmidt. The successful, title-winning McLaren-Mercedes partnership dates back almost two decades, but with Mercedes now with its own team, McLaren is no longer the 'works' partner. According to Schmidt, the solution could be Honda. "The question is whether the Japanese are coming in 2014 or not until 2015," he said. "It is a poorly kept secret that McLaren is talking with Honda." In fact, Schmidt relayed paddock rumors that Honda already has engineers working at McLaren's Woking headquarters, with a final board decision about whether the manufacturer will return to F1 after a half-decade absence "pending".

Lotus Made Valsecchi Only F1 Offer For 2013: Davide Valsecchi, the latest GP2 champion, has revealed he will never forget Lotus' offer of a role in Formula One this year. We reported last month that the 26-year-old Italian risks becoming the first ever GP2 title winner who might never sit on a F1 grid. But he will at least be Lotus' reserve driver in 2013, and on Saturday was called up to test the impressive new black and red E21 when Kimi Raikkonen called in sick with food poisoning. "I used Kimi's seat, overalls, shoes ... everything except the underwear," he said in Barcelona, after Romain Grosjean dashed from Paris to replace him. Valsecchi said he was happy with the brief opportunity to drive, but Italy's Tuttosport sensed his disappointment at failing to secure a proper race seat. "There have been calls," he is quoted as saying, "but they were all asking for sponsors, and all I offer is a Fiat Punto," Valsecchi joked. "Lotus was the only one to call me and really propose something to me," he revealed. "If one day I become the best in the world, I will remember it."