Reigning Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke about the 2016 season as Mercedes' new W07 Hybrid car is set to take to the track at pre-season testing in Barcelona, Spain.

"I've been racing a long time so the first time out in the new car is always exciting. I imagine it's the same as anyone buying a new car, when you save up and you go and buy a new car and the first time you drive it, that excitement's the same as when I get to go in my Formula One car, except it's even a lot more fun."

"I love racing, so we always welcome more races but it's going to be gruelling this year for sure with 21 races, mostly for the team because these guys are away from their families for so long. The guys, the cars going to have to go further distance. There's more points available so the championship's going to be mentally even more challenging than it has in the past. But I love driving new tracks, I love going and seeing new places. I've never been to Azerbaijan so I'm super excited to go there."

"If anything it motivated me - you know, I finished those races and it motivated me thinking, 'okay, this year Nico's (Rosberg) going to be super quick, he's going to be super strong and I've got to make sure that I raise the level - try and raise the bar again.' That's the big question. How do you do that? Because each year... you know, the last two years I've done that each year, but to be able to do it a third time is hard. You could easily lower the bar. It's easier to lower it than to raise it again. So that's the unknown... and I just was on the simulator just before I did this and grateful that I can still drive, so... (laughs)"