Lewis Hamilton says he is feeling positive after his first virtual test in McLaren's 2011 car.

The 2008 world champion spent Monday in the simulator at McLaren's Woking factory, with team-mate Jenson Button taking over duties on Wednesday.

"The car was feeling good," Hamilton, who finished fourth in this season's championship, told BBC Look East.

"We have a good indication of where the car is and where we will take it. There are positives going into next year."

Hamilton and Button sat out the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi leaving reserve driver Gary Paffett and youngster Oliver Turvey to assess the new 2011 tyres produced by Pirelli, which takes over from Bridgestone as F1's supplier.

Hamilton had his first chance to try out a simulation of the new tyres at McLaren's Technology Centre this week.

"The test drivers develop the model of the tyre that we have on the simulator to give it the correct feeling and then Jenson and I go on there and test it as much as we like," explained Hamilton.

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"[There was not] really too big a change. The rear tyres are a little bit weaker and the fronts seems a bit stronger in certain areas but the tyres will evolve and be a lot different by the first test."

With the first pre-season test not scheduled until 1 February, the teams are focused over the winter on adapting to 2011's rule changes away from the track.

New regulations will see the re-introduction of the kinetic energy recovery system [Kers] which gives cars an extra boost of power, an adjustable rear-wing aimed at improved overtaking and the removal of the aerodynamic F-duct aid and the double diffuser.

After his first day in the simulator, Hamilton commented on the MP4-26 car on the social networking site Twitter: "Lots of neat ideas and improvements.

"Kers and rear wing is trick but felt right at home with it. Our Kers is the best. It should deliver."

Button, who finished fifth in his first season with McLaren, commented on his Twitter site that he would be testing new parts in the team's simulator on Wednesday.

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