Unwell Hamilton withdraws from opening day of testing

Lewis Hamilton has been forced to withdraw from the first day of testing in Barcelona because of illness.

The world champion completed 11 laps for Mercedes on the opening morning of the four-day Spanish test before deciding to abandon driving for the day.

The Silver Arrows’ test driver Pascal Wehrlein, who was midway through the first of two days of running for Force India, has been recalled by Mercedes to assume driving duties from Hamilton for the rest of the day.