Lewis Hamilton gets behind the wheel with Billy Monger

Lewis Hamilton has been joined on the Mercedes launch day by young driver Billy Monger as himself and team-mate Valtteri Bottas unveil their team’s new car ahead of the upcoming Formula One season.

Hamilton, 33, is at Silverstone as he and Bottas finally get their hands on their new vehicle, which will be used for the first time in a competitive race when the new campaign begins in Melbourne next month.

He was accompanied by Monger, who lost both lower legs in a crash in a Formula 4 race ten months ago, as they oversaw final preparations and then took a spin in a luxurious car.

Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas gives fans a glimpse of the new Mercedes AMG F1 W09 in the pits at Silverstone 

Hamilton and Bottas finally got their hands on their new vehicle, which will be used for the first time in Melbourne next month

Team officials looked over the car as Bottas drove it out of the pits and unveiled it to the world on Thursday morning

Bottas got hands on with the car which Mercedes hope will maintain their recent dominance over Formula One

Bottas was given the first taste of this year’s challenger during a filming day at an overcast Silverstone on Thursday. Mercedes, who have won the last four constructors’ championships, will officially unveil the car at lunchtime. 

Hamilton and Monger were captured on the star’s Instagram story appearing to look over the car on Thursday morning before they then got into a green Mercedes AMG GT R to hurtle around the track.

Monger’s charge through the field in the rain at Donington Park last April came to a horrific halt when he hit Finnish driver Patrik Pasma’s stationary car at 120mph.

Monger was extracted from the car after 90 minutes before being airlifted to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, where he spent three days in a coma while his legs were amputated. 

The addition of the halo, which lies in front of the drivers’ head, is the biggest design change for the 2018 breed of cars

Hamilton and Monger were captured on the star’s Instagram story looking over the car with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff

The pair then got into a stunning green Mercedes AMG GT R as they hurtled around the Silverstone track

Hamilton was in the driver’s seat and was captured speeding down one of the straights at the Northamptonshire circuit

Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff addresses the media before the official unveiling of the vehicle got underway

While Bottas got familiar with his new car, Hamilton spoke to the press before he gets his chance later on Thursday

Hamilton filmed the vehicle’s purring engine before they set off and was then captured speeding down one of the straights within the Northamptonshire circuit.

Hamilton will be aiming to win his fifth Formula One title when the new season begins on March 25 in Melbourne.

Mercedes have been the sport’s dominant force in recent times with Hamilton surpassing Sir Jackie Stewart as the only British driver to win more than three championships after he beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to the title last year.