The 23-year-old completed 103 laps at the Jerez circuit while new team mate Heikki Kovalainen [ Images ] of Finland did 101.

"I saw the completed car for the first time on Monday at the team's launch in Stuttgart and I have been pretty impatient since then," said Hamilton in a team statement.

• It's official: Fisichella, Sutil to lead Force India

"My first impressions are encouraging. I covered over 103 laps, which is 456kms, today. Considering this is only the second day the car has been on track, I am pretty happy with that.

"We have a lot of work to do, but now we have a real understanding of where we are starting from."

• Hamilton sees a kindred spirit in Kovalainen

Hamilton, who lost the title by a single point to Ferrari's [ Images ] Kimi Raikkonen [ Images ] in his rookie season last year, will continue testing with Kovalainen on Friday and next week.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Justin Palmer)