Valtteri Bottas has cast doubt on suggestions Mercedes hold a significant speed advantage over the field heading into the new Formula 1 season.

Though it was Ferrari who set the quickest times in pre-season testing, analysis of long-run pace and the difference in tyre compounds has led some to believe the world champions could be as much as a full second clear of the rest heading to the first race in Australia in less than two weeks.

In Barcelona, Mercedes admitted they have yet to turn up the engine power or run low fuel - as was demonstrated by their positioning most days in the speed traps - plus they have yet to use the Hypersoft tyre, instead, completing much of their work on the Medium compound.

“We are definitely not a second ahead of the others,” Bottas stated when the hypothesis was put to him. “We need to keep working for the week and a half before we travel to Melbourne but will be interesting to find out where we will be.”

One reason some are also sceptical is Mercedes traditionally struggle to extract performance from the softer tyre compounds and were reportedly struggling with blistering on the faster rubber when conditions warmed up in the second week.

"Hopefully it will be different in Melbourne, but on the new track surface here in Barcelona we had some difficulties," the Finn conceded.

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As for his own expectations this season, Bottas is feeling the pressure to pose a year-long threat to teammate Lewis Hamilton but is confident he is better prepared to deal with the four-time world champion.

"Lewis is a great driver and I should never get upset if he is quicker than me at times," he said. 

"For sure I was beating myself up a lot last year when I was struggling but that's all part of the learning process and you always learn about yourself as well every season.

"I am going in with a good mindset for this year. I know I can do a lot of good things so let's see race by race."

Finally, the 28-year-old was adamant he could come out on top against Hamilton without using the mind games employed by Nico Rosberg in 2016.

"I'm going to focus on my own performance on the track. I will be quick in practice, qualifying and in the races, focusing my energy on that," Valtteri said.

"For sure Nico worked very hard, he took three years to beat Lewis, but he beat him by working hard. I believe it's possible."