In pictures: Mercedes' long-awaited return to the track

It has proven to be a vital day for Mercedes and Formula 1 ahead of the sport's long-awaited return to action in early July.

As mentioned in our earlier article, it has been 102 days since a car last roared into life, since when F1 has been forced to baton down the hatches and ride out the Covid-19 storm.

At Silverstone on Tuesday (June 9), Mercedes commenced the first of a two-day protocol test - with Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel of the 2018 W09 - as it attempted to come to terms with the new procedures required to go racing in Austria on July 3-5 and beyond this season.

As can be seen from the main image at the top of this article, face masks are now obligatory, with Bottas and all members of the team required to wear them.

Here, GPFans brings you a selection of images from Mercedes photographer Steve Etherington that highlight the 'new normal', as the team described in one of its tweets.

Reigning six-time champion Lewis Hamilton returns to action on Wednesday (June 10).

Before you go...

F1 believes no team now facing threat of extinction - including Williams

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