Lewis Hamilton wants Mercedes to allow 'knife edge' runs in F1 test

Mercedes has dominated the mileage charts over the first seven days of testing in Spain, splitting duties each day between its drivers because of the number of laps the car is completing.

But with the reliability of the new car seemingly proven, Hamilton is keen to push his 2016 challenger to the edge before heading to the Australian Grand Prix.

"I feel good in the car, we've not really pushed it to the limit in terms of qualifying laps," said the world champion.

"I've had a couple of fast laps, but in terms of really putting the car on a knife-edge and homing in on the set-up and everything - I don't really know.

"I've done three or four laps in a lower attacking mode in terms of fuel.

"Now it's about trying to understand the car on a knife-edge - that I haven't experienced much.

"So hopefully in the morning I can have a bit of that before the first race.

"The only way I can describe it is like balancing a knife on its tip - we have thousands of things we can change to make it balance.

"But finding if we're in the right zone, the right ballpark, comes first."

Hamilton admitted he found long runs in testing "boring", but he understands the significance of logging high mileage.

"We have to describe it as we are trying to build a pyramid, and you can't start by building the top part," he said.

"You have to build the base, and the long runs are building the base - the stability and the endurance of the car.

"Then you can start putting the pieces on top of it.

"The bigger the base, the higher the top can be, that's what we're working on.

"I'm super ready for the race, in terms of doing the distance, managing the tyres, the fuel, the systems.

"I can't wait for the race - I'm excited about that."